CONTROL OF SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 194, 12 May 1919, Page 5

CONTROL OF SAMOA

MANDATE FOR NEW ZEALAND

London, May 9. Official: The mandate for New Zealand's control of Samoa is ns follows:— Germany renounces all her rights and title over the islands constituting German Samoa, and tho Allied and Associated Powers entrust the government of the islands to His Britannic Majesty, to l>c exercised by tho New Zealand Government, who have full legislative, administrative, and judicial power over the islands as an integral part of the tornlory of New Zealand, and may apply Now Zealand laws thereto, subject to such local modifications as circumstances may require. His Britannic Majesty, for tho New Zealand Government, accepts, tho mandate upon the footing that tho trust is imposed and accepted for the well-being and development of the peoples of tho islands, and to that end undertakes that slave trade and forced labour shall be. prohibited. Traffic in arms and ammunition is to be controlled in accordance with any joneral convention which may he entered into by the high contracting parties in this behalf. The sale of spirituous liquors to natives shall be prohibited, and military train-

ing of tho natives, otherwise than for the purpose of internal police a,nd local Jefonco of tho islands, shall bo prohibited, Furthermore, no military or naval bases shall be established and no fortifications shall bo erected in the islands, cither by tho Government of New Zealand or by any Power or person. Tho value of property in the islands belonging to tho Gorman Government shall be assessed and shall be recorded in tho inter-Allied Reparation Fund and regarded as allocated to tho share of the Government of New Zealand's expenses of administra tion of tho islands. If tho revenues obtained from local sources are insufficient, expenses will bo defrayed by the Government of New Zealand. '

If, at any time, tho native inhabitants of tho islands express a desire to bo united with New Zealand, and iC the Council of the League of Nations consider this desire to he conscious and wellfounded and calculated to promote the natives' interests, the Allied and Associated Powers agree that effect shafl 'be given to it by the Council of the League, and the islands shall therefrom be incorporated in New Zealand for all purposes and the administration under this Convention shall be regarded as at an end; provided that all undertakings set out in Article 111, including 'the prohibition against the establishment of military, or naval bases or fortifications, shall be maintained, and shall continue to operate in the islands after such incorporation.' The inhabitants of the islands shall be entitled to British diplomatic protection when in foreign countries. The Government of New Zealand will make an annual report containing full information in regard to the islands and the measures taken to fulfil the trust and the. extent of the well-being of the natives.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISPOSAL OF NAURU ISLAND MANDATE GIVEN TO BRITISH EMPIRE na ~ ■ , London, May 9. Umcial: Much interest has been taken by Australians and New Zealanders in tho disposal of.the island of Nauru, in the South Pacific, which has been finnllv dealt with by the Council of tho Allied Powers in a manner different from oilier former German colonies, the mandate having been given to the British Empire. Mr. Massey contended from the outset of the consideration of/and conferences on the subject that as a producing country requiring phosphates New Zealand was vitally interested in the fate of the island, and suggested it should be held under a form of mandate which would conserve the interests of ooth Australia and New Zealand. Objection to this was raised by the Australian delegate. The Colonial Offico thought the mandate should go to the British Empire, so that all their interests might be considered, rand to this Mi-, Massey was willing to consent. • Australia again objected, urging that Australia had taken possession. To this the reply was that possession meant for tho Empire, not for any part of it. Tho ofncial notice that Nauru is to beplaced under a mandate to the British Empire may be interpreted to mean that the mandate is to Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, with the administration under a Commission. In view of the fact that there is no more basic slag available in Groat Britain for Zealand fanners, .it is essential that satisfactory arrangements should be made for the supply of phosuhalea.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesu.

A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AUSTRALIA MAY GET AN UNCONDITIONAL MANDATE. (Rec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, May 6. Mr. Keith Murdoch writes: "Tlie Council rediscussed, amongst other mat-' ■tei's relating to German possessions, that of Nauru Island. A heated controversy arose between Mr. Hughes and Mr. Mussey. The allotment of the mandate to the Empire is a, temporary solution, and Lord Milner is coming to Paris to bring matters to finality. There is now n strong probability of Mr. Lloyd George intervening .and of Australia getting an unconditional mandate, thus upsetting the British company which during the war bought the German shares for ■£570,000. The company kept the price of phosphate high throughout the war, and the shareholders now stand to make colosdal fortunes."—United Service