THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 146, 9 March 1918, Page 2

THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Sir,—Sweeping statements have been made by Mr. Mnssey and Sir Joseph Ward declaring it is of vitnl importance to Now Zealand that we retain possession of- Samoa and never allow Germany to return titers. It is the first very iialui'al feeling of Britishers who in A desperate fight have got possession of a strategic point. But it would do New Zealand injustice if such bare statements go forth as the well-considered opinions of the thoughtful 'Now Zealanders. The question touches a larger hsuc than at first appears. The war is slowly teaching us that money, it.oii, munitions are only some of the factors, and that the spirit of a nation and its leaders weighs heavily in the balance towards victory. It is an old story now, but it is well to remember that our statesmen strove earnestly to preserve peace and drew the sword knowing great sacrifices were involved for the sake of national duty and honour. They reiterated with our approval that we were not out for conquest of territory, but to preserve the freedom of nations which Germany v.lanned to absorb. That-we still fight'for, and shall do till she is forced to withdraw from Belgium unci France, and provide for some measure of restitution there. But to insist at the same time that we retain such of her territory as we have won control of is to plan not for the lasting peace we and our Allies hope for, nut is talking in the very spirit which'bieeds hatred and revenge and makes war probable. On Germany's ' Western front a League of Nations is taking joint action from day to day in military procedure, and when tho day of settlement arrives they may see fit to retain control of German colonies till rt.'lgium'a rostitution is assured. By that time international law will have been defined and empowered as never before. And there will be hope of a final settlement so just tWvt, thft nati-Mi or the world will not dispute it. • ~ Germany's return to the Pacific, would be an ugly fact for iis' to face when fighting stops, but not so ugly as for the nations of the world to justly feel that tho British Empire had gone back on its word. This statement of tho case vill, I know, appear to many good men at first sight as foolishness; hut I make it because I believe it contains a kernel of truth and voices a widespread feeling— a feeling, a knowledge that unless we as an Empire of democrats, dropping much of the formalism of Christendom, are prepared to administer in harmony with its broadest principles the Empire itself is in danger of disintegration. . Not the narrow code of non-resist-ance which properly applies to the personal behaviour of those who devote their lives wholly to preaching, hut the broader principles foreshadowed in the great speeches of Asduith, Grey, and Wilson, speeches which accept the fact of force being I'ecessary to maintain the law, whether national or international, and to control incarnate selfishness when it seeks with arrogance to dominate the world.—l am, etc., WILL B. MATHESON. Eketahuna, March 7.' .