Samoa.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19268, 24 March 1928, Page 14

Samoa.

Mr Allen, who is to succeed MajorGeneral Richardson as Administrator of Western Samoa, is hardly known to the public, but this does not at all mean that be is wanting in the qualities

necessary to the successful discharge of the Administrator's duties. It may be assumed that the Prime Minister made his selection in the light of his understanding that the public desires that the Samoans shall be led into contentment with the Mandate. Everyone 'will wish success to the new Administrator and will be surprised if the wish is disappointed. The long statement with which Mr Coates accompanied his announcement of Mr Allen's appointment is on the whole | satisfactory. It makes perfectly clear the anxiety of the Government to treat the Samoan people with kindness and care while insisting at the same time upon its authority as the Mandatory Power. It admits the peaceful temper and general good conduct of the Samoans, and it reveals the desire of the Government to go to the extremest lengths of forbearance and toleration. This is very satisfactory indeed, and it is therefore a pity that Mr Coates should have concluded his statement with a paragraph suggesting the possibility of an armed " conflict with these "innocent though misguided people." _ Such a conflict, he adds, is "not unavoidable." It will not be avoided, however, if steps are not taken to persuade the natives to give up their dream of " Samoa for the Samoans." The retiring Administrator seems to Slave failed to deal with this foolish 4 'Nationalist" idea as it could have been dealt with. He encouraged the idea that the whole trouble was copra, Mr Nelson and Prohibition, and it is now apparent that the real difficulty was something else. With the European. directors of the Mau out of the way, there will be nothing left to deal with except genuine Samoan sentiment. It will be Mr Allen's business to take that sentiment in hand, to make it clear to the Samoans that they lose nothing and gain much through the control of their affairs by the Dominion.