PEACE AT ALL COSTS

Evening Star, Issue 19796, 21 February 1928, Page 5

PEACE AT ALL COSTS

MO NELSON'S MESSAGE TO SAMOA GOVERNMENT IGNORES OFFER OF HELP (Peb United Press Association.] WELLINGTON., February 21. “ I consider the despatch of warships to Samoa a very unwise move, which could only have been dictated by a military mind. My purpose in coming lo Wellington was to consult counsel, and through him to offer the Government my assistance in the present emergency. My counsel has made tins offer, but it has been ignored by tho Prime Minister, so in these circumstances I have despatched the following radio message to Mr Baxter, counsel for the Man at Apia;— Please inform the Samoans that 1 entreat them to preserve peace at all costs. “ This is only following the line ol policy which I have adopted right throughout, and I have reason to hope that the Samoan people will continue to preserve tho peace, despite intimidation and further repressive mcasurse.” Mr Nelson leaves this afternoon for Auckland, en route to England. TIRED OF SITUATION the need for CONFERENCE. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND. February 21. The ‘Herald’s’ Samoan corre spondent writes under date, Apia, February 11; . Tho political situation is quiet, although there are signs that the country is getting tired of an impossible situation. The boycott of the stores is being worked, but it does not seem to be worrying the people to any great extent. Various devices are used to get bully beef. The Administration made advances to the Man Committee for a conference to settle all differences. Groat expectations were held, but at the last minute the malcontesnts refused to come forward. There is still a prospect of a meeting. It is believed that a conference will bring matters to a bend, with every prospect of settlement. The difficulty has been to bring the parties together. The Mau people at the moment seem to be following the old formula—“ don’t have _ anything to do with the Administration.” If once contact is brought about, well informed people say that a settlement will soon be reached.