IN SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1928, Page 1

IN SAMOA

WARSHIPS DESPATCHED. STATEMENT BV PRIME MINISTER WELLINGTON, Fob. 18. Following the receipt of wireless messages from Samoa a meeting of Cabinet was hold to consider the sitmtion. At the conclusion of the ueeting. the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. .). Coates) made the following statement: Recent advices received from Western Samoa indicate that all efforts to bring about either reconciliation between the Alan Committee and the loyal section of the native population, or in auy way to mitigate the defiant .Ittitude of the disaffected duels who consitute the centre of the Man movement in Apia, have failed. Tin; latest messages from the Administrator state that a serious position has arisen and that any action taken by the official police will be regarded as a signal for general retaliation by the Man against Europeans, the result, therefore, being that the entire police force is powerless and the maintenance of peace improbable. I am glad to assure the public -that up till the present time, owing to the patience and forbearance which has been exercised, there have been no actual breaches of the peace. Tint as danger to life and propelty might arise if steps are taken to restore tlic normal functions of government without adequate force behind authority, Cabinet has decided, entirely as a precautionary measure, to dispatch the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede to the mandated territory. AfR HOLLAND'S VIEW. WHANG A RET. Fob. 10. It was not until after bis meeting at Whangaroi that Air 11. E. Holland, leader of the Opposition, learned definitely that the warships Dunedin and Diomede had boon ordered to Samoa. Air Holland has handed the following statement to the Press in relation to the incident:— <T Thc‘ Government's action is extremely ill-advised, and will probably only serve to inflame the position in Samoa. The people of New Zealand have boon told repeatedly that the deportation of the Hon O. F. Nelson. Af.L.C.. and his colleagues would mean the end of the trouble in Samoa; indeed more than one misleading report has been sent out conveying the idea that matters had commenced to settle down after the departure of Messrs Nelson and Smyth. Exactly the contrary was the ease, however, and the real effect of the deportations lias been to further incense iho Samoans. The sending of warships to Samoa may have the effect of precipitating trouble and it would have been much better if the Government had taken a sensible way out of the difficulty. “A return to normal conditions can only l>e secured by an abandonment of the ‘big stick’ policy. Deportation and banishment orders should cease, and the deported Samoans and Europeans should be allowed to return to tlieir homes. General Richardson should be recalled without delay, and the people of Samoa should lie notified that the promises made to them in the name of New Zealand will be honoured, that we will recognise the right of the Samoan people to an effective voice in the Government of their own country, and finally that there will be an application of the principles of justice, with the right of fair trial in every ease where offences are alleged on the part of either Europeans or Samoans.”

WARSHIPS IN SAMOA. DEPORTEES’ COMMENTS. AECK r.AXP. Eel). 'JO. Arriving in Auckland by the Tofua this afternoon. Mr E. .1. Gurr, third oi the European citizens to he deported from Samoa, stated that the information of warships having keen sent to die mandated territory was news to him. Asked if he thought there was need for such an action. Mr Gurr replied ■' -No. emphatically no! ” Asked what effect the arrival of the warships would probably have on the natives, he replied. “ I should imagine the natives will be amused more than

anything. They are used to having battleships in Apia, and I should think the presence of two New Zealand ships will have no political effect whatever.” HON. Mr NELSON’S VIEWS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. Hon. F. Nelson, the deported Samoan M..L.C., said the sending of the warships was a precipitate one which might lead to a lot of trouble. It was not a precautionary measure. The Administrator was apparently looking for trouble, at a time when diplomatic action. instead of force, was called for. The Samoan people were not strangers to a bombardment. The head taxes had not been paid, and thus £20,000 was outstanding. His own absence had not ended the trouble, as the'.Administrator had implied that it would.