THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 2

THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Sir,—ln to-day's.Dominion , Mr. T. U. H. Field attacks m'e vigorously for the position 1 have taken up favouring the restoration of Samoa to Germany, miless some other nation is appointed to control it, by an award based on international law as laid down by the growing League of Nations. He suggests that I live in an atmosphere of sickly sentiment and wouid approve of his silly quotation from somewhere— "don't hurt poor Germany or there may be another war." I think if wo met in public debate he would take that back, but I will not ask for your space to defend myself. Let mo refer to the public question at issue. I cannot quote dates and speakers of tlio words ) attributed to our statesmen whoif the war was entered, namely, "Wu are not out for conquest of territory," for I live far away from newspaper files, but I am surprised that Mr. Field should question my right to use- them if he: thinks back to thespeeches made by Asquith, Grey, and George in 1014. To mo they reiterated that idea when justifying our Empire in lighting for thu freedom of nations which Germany planned to absorb. Mr. Field quotes Lloyd George's speech of January 5 last as if my statements aw at variance with it. 1 contend they are not, The speech harmonises with President Wilson's, and does not, like Air. Field's letter, "insist that Germany may never again have a fortress at our front door." Lloyd George knows full well tlmt, whatever boundaries are settled, our .Empire must face the fact of Germany Bs a neighbour on the planot In his speech ho says, ','The disruption of Germany never has been a war aim with us, and is not . . ■. Germany has occupied a great position in the

world. It is not our wish to (juestioTi or destroy that position for the future." Winston Churchill (whom no one will accuse of sickly sentiment), speaking in last Decomber, said: — "Our war aims are clear r.ud exactly w liiit they were on that breathless night in August, 1914. Our solo aim is that Germany shall not emerge j stronger than when sho began it. ! . . . That Prussian militarism shall ; go out of the conflict abashed, l.ot i exalted." J That is the meaning of Asquith, > Lloyd George, and President Wilson ; when they say, "Our aims are repara-; tiou, restoration, and security., alore j we do not ask. Wo did not enter this j war with any idea of territorial gain. | Wβ are not lighting for booty or re-! vengo." j Asquith in December last said :— "I gladly usu President Wilson's j words: 'No one is threatening tho ex- j istence, the independence, the peaceful j enterprise of the German Empire. Wo • want a peace based on generosity and ■ justice, to the exclusion of selfish ( claims to advantage even on the part j of the victors.' . . . We want a clean peace. Wo havo not, we do not, : desire any quarrol, internecine and perpetual, with the German nation." I hold, Sir, that these quotations j from recent speeches by statesmen of' the English-speaking races show a de- j sire to lift us out of the rut of selfish > national aims, to build an international fabric based so soundly that it. shall long endure. And to aeclare such deaires to-day ie good military tactics and diplomacy. To achieve them will bring to our children's children a greater honour than can come from enlarging our boundaries as victors,— I anij etc,, WILLB. MA-THESON. Kketahuna, March 27, 1918.