THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 196, 8 May 1918, Page 6

THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Sir, — r have rend Mr. Field's letter in Saturday's Domixion. He is wrong m hie statement uf the fouls, as anyone whu might RO to the trnnblo of readies (he correspondence would see. He elects finally to assume, i.nd again he is wrong, that hie original challenge to me wbj simply to defend my statement, that; "Germany's return to the Pacific would be an ugiy fnct for us to face, hut not =o u"lv as for the nations of the world to justly fee! the XiritUh Empire nsxil L'one back on its word." However, as he has sa elected, I am prepared to defend that statement, though it is not the broad (ir.oslum with which the correspondence started. Our statesmen, who are. of course, the mouthpiece pf the Emphe, have said we. ere not out for conquest of territory. I>iis is a phrase 1 used in my first letter. 1. Britain at the present stage do ermines to hold Samoa (and this is what was discussed in my first letter), she determines with regard to Samoa on a policy of conquest. If Britain determines on n policv of conquest even in so small a. matter" as Samoa, she in that respect 'rill "go back on her ivord." I realise, that the return of Samoa to Germany would be an ugly 'Vt to fore,. as 1 raid before, but it is surely obvious thai tho destiny of Samoa must form part, a small part, of the snttlenient of the tremendous issues to be < e&t with «. the ll, w l peace terms. Sir. I , mill "» h ' s method of Indirect personal argument, uas unfortunately r.arrcwwl down tid whole of this correspondence ivom tiw broad P"neip^invol«.l.-^^ : Eketahuna, May G, ISIS.