SAMOAN AFFAIRS’

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 2

SAMOAN AFFAIRS’

HIGH CHIEF SUPPORTS ADMINISTRATION.

An interesting letter, written by the High Chief of Samoa, Malietoa, has been addressed to tho Hon. E. P. Leo, Minister of External Affairs. The letter, which refers to a petition from the Samoans to His Majesty tho King, expressing dissatisfaction with New Zealand’s administration of Samoa, and asking that the mandate be taken away from tho Dominion and given to Great Britain, says:—

"I respectfully write my letter to you. Thanks be to the Almighty for his care of us. Thanks be to Him that through His goodness to this group of islands the future foreshadows prosperity. . . . . That is not all. There is another matter about which I wish to write you with a joyful heart. I wish to express my thanks for the reply which has reached us concerning the 'Petition of the Faipules.’ which was forwarded to the King. As you already know, that petition was written without my sanction. I had no pleasure in that petition because it was obvious that it was not desirable, and was, moreover, not in accord with 'the true wish of Samoa. But at that time there were some who wore thinking along strange lines. That petition was accepted by you in accordance with the true spirit of liberty of those who dwell under the British flag, and it was forwarded to His Majesty th® King. We waited for a. reply to that petition. Wo had no apprehension as to its result, because we were certain that wo would receive the true decision in that answer. And it was thus that tho answer of His Majesty came. Great is tho satisfaction with that answer; moreover, it is very Obvious that the majority of Samoans lean towards that decision. Our gratitude to the wise counsellors who directed the decision. My own opinion is that the reply will bo a factor in creating a united' Samoa in that the mandate is rightly given to Now Zealand. That answer will become the moans of mor® firmly cementing the unity of all States under the British flag. We are one family—Britain is tho parent, the colonies and groups of islands are tho children. “ 'God Save the King.’ "I send my groat love to you, sir. "My sincere good wishes to our whole Government in New Zealand, to His Excellency the Governor-General, and to the Parliament. "May you lire.”