THE SAMOAN MANDATE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 8

THE SAMOAN MANDATE

TOLLY NOT TO ACCEPT CONTROL., Replying to questions concerning the Ramoan mandate, Mi , . Massey said: "So far as the financial aspect ie concerned the revenue of Samoa for a good number of years past has exceeded the expondituiv. ' 1 hav* no doubt after things fettle down again to normal the benefit of the mandate will bo appreciated by both New Zealand and Samoa. There can be no two opinions that tho change of control from Oermany to Britain will be good fo'r the group. Unfortunately the influenza epidemic coming on lop of « certain.' amount of disorganisation duo to tho change of control will affect matters for a little while. Still, there is no question that tho islands will flourish under our control, and that tho transfer will bo of mutual advantage So far as the general question' applies Micro could bo no middle course. It wae our duty to accept this responsibility, especially on account of the important strategic position which Samoa occupies as one of our outposte in tho Pacific. It is just a.simple matter of taking no risks." The Prime Minister was reminded that a certain amount of criticism had been levelled at Now Zealand's administration of ihe Cook Islands, and argument against the hiking on of additional island responsibility. "Yes," replied llr. AJnssey, "there has been a good deal of rulverso comment, but let us look at the reoort of the Australian inter-State Commission on the (subject of New Zealand's administration ol Hie Cool; Islands. That report, which can bu regarded as an unbiased one, is very favourable indued in its comment of what has Ifiknn place in the Conk islands under New Zealand control. Rcspectif/K hostility in some Quarters to Uic Samoa mandate, I can onlv point to the fact that in the past A T nw Zealand statesmen, have been very anxious indeed to see Samoa become an integral part of the ,New /calami Commonwealth. All I can add is that it ••vould havo boon sheer folly not to tako advantage of this opportunity to obtain for~New Zealand the main voice in tho eoatrol of Swaoa."-

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS BISK OF IVAKS BEDUCED. ' Sir Joseph Witrd, in an interview, said that one of the memorable features of the Peace Conference would unquestionably be tho creation of tho League of Nations. It should cortainly bo a powerful deterrent from war; and if it iras expanded in tho future by tho inclusion of other great Powers it would certainly prevent the endden plunging of any countries iuto war without their having ample time to consider fully what war would mean to them. It was conceivable that within a comparatively ehorfc period there might be a combination of s.ome of the great countries that were at.present outside the walls of thtj League, and until all the countries now exoluded came in, tho League could not he as effective as its woll-wishers desired. Tho fact that Germany had already expressed a wish to become a member of tho League indicated that she recognised the power that centred in it.

Later on, continued Sir Joseph Ward, when the tidal wave of Bolshevism anil the chaos associated with it in Russia hnd subsided, and that country was divided, as he believed it would be. into ii number of Russian States or Republics, it was more than probable that they would come into the League of Nations; and these States, in addition to the great Powers already included, should enable the machinery of the League to be worked effectively for tho principal object for which it was established.

"In attempting to judge what will be the future power of tho Leaguo to maintain the world's peace, wo have to consider," added the Minister, "the effect of the Peace Treaty.in another material respect. The military spirit that has hitherto existed in the Continental countries has, in. my opinion, received its death-blow by one of the conditions to which Germany has agreed— the reducing of her armed forces first to 200,000 ami iator on to 100,000 men. This means the complete abolition of human conscription in tho nation that at the beginning of ■ this, war, under its system of Prussian militarism, was the best organised and the most fully-equipped -fighting people in the world. Tins is Hie forerunner of the abolition of conscription in all countries, and of the disappearance of other elements that for' forty years or more prior to 1911 enabled Gμ , -: many to build up scientifically her treat war machine.

"It is hardly possible that the present generation of ohiidren in that cuuntry will have inoulcated under 'pence conditions a warlike spirit similar to that of the fathers under thu old regime, who were trained in all tho arts of var. The generation now growing up wiJl in 25 years from now be in a djffcrurt atmosphere' from that which th&ir predecessors lived iu; and so, as tlio years go by , , though the League of Nations may not be able to stop war altogether, it should exercise great power in that direction, because "any country wishing 16 pq to war would/bo faced with the certainty that it would have all the forces under the League arrayed against it. Moreover, the setting uji of a blockade .'-gainst a belligerent country .would ho tin easy and more effective operation in future than was the case during th,e recent war, as it could be put into notion immediately. It seems to me that ! our duty individually and collectively, is to assist to mould public opinion in our own country, with a view to helping to make this great experimental organisation of the nations au effective cne, to prevent any recurrence of the atrocities and horrors that have' been fo appalling during tho last four anil a half years.

FUTURE POLITICAL POSITION - SIB JOSEPH WARD RETICENT. Questioned regarding tho future political position in New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward said that throughout his. association with the' National Government lie had not "publicly discussed political party questions, and ho did not intend to do eo while he was still a member cf tho National Government. Until his severance from the National Government he felt that was the only attitude he could take up. "I may add, however, tlint I recognise fully the situation in Now Zealand, and realise that there ail most difficult problems ahead to.bo solved." Nothing would give him greator delight than to stnd out a greeting and a rallying call to all .faithful supporters of Liberalism, but lest his action should be open to misconstruction he preferred to refrain from saying anything of a party political nature at this stage and until he felt that he was at liberty to do so.

INDUSTRIAL UNREST The Prime Minister Itad somethinß to eay about the tremendoHs ninount of indn'striol trouble to-day. Ho remarked: "Coming through Canada only recently, wo saw what had been happening there, and the serious state of affairs that had existed for some months. 1 am glad to say, however, tliafc matters were steadily improving when we were coming through." Speaking of industrial matters nearer home, Mr. Massey admitted that New Zealand, in _ common with other countries,'was feeling J.he effect of the wave of industrial unrest, but expressed .himself confident in the opinion that New Zealanders were too levelheaded to be carried away by outside influences. I have ths utmost confidence jn tlie good sense of the majority of the citizens of Now Zealand. They will do the right thing when the time comes, !>oth in the industrial and political issues. In brief, I have no very grave fears about the political aspect of things, £0 far as they will be affected by the great sane section of Labour."

WELLINGTON'S RECEPTION Tho Mayor states that a civic reception to Mr. Massoy and Sir Joseph Ward will be given at noon on Friday.