SAMOAN UNREST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3758, 23 February 1928, Page 3

SAMOAN UNREST.

HON. O. F. NELSON MAKES A

STATEMENT.

The latest statement the Hon. 0. F. Nelson has handed to the Press contains an allegation that an offer male by him to assist the Government in the present Samoan trouble <®as ignored. The reply of the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) is that no such communication has been received.

“My purpose in coming to Wellington,” runs the statement issued by Mr. Nelson, “was to consult counsel, and through him to offer the Government my assistance in the present emergency. My counsel has made this offer, but it has been ignored by the Prime Ministei-, so in these circumstances. I have dispatcher! the following radio to Mr. Baxter, counsel for the Mau, at Apia: —‘Please inform Samoans that I entreat them to preserve the peace at all costs.’ This is only following the line of policy which I have adopted right throughout, and I have reason to hope the Samoan people will continue to preserve the peace, despite intimidation and further repressive measures.”

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. When the foregoing statement was .submitted to him, the Prime Minister’s comment was very brief. “It is a matter for regret,” he said, “that Mr. Nelson’s proferred good offices were not . available many months ago. I have received no communication from him regarding recent events in Samoa.” DRASTIC ACTION DEMANDED. Apia, February . 21. Affairs in Samoa have reached an impasse. The Mau Samoans persistently refuse to meet the Council of Faipules and have also twice refused invitations to meet the Administrator at Mulinuu and discuss affairs with him. They are obviously obeying the exhortation of a deported member of the Eivropean Mau committee that Samoans should “stick to the Mau.”

The boycott of the shops continues and Mau policemen armed with big sticks compel Samoans to return to the shops articles purchased by them. Even Samoan servants of Europeans are being compelled to return purchases made on behalf of their employers. The time given by the Administrator wherein the Mau representatives were to interview him regarding their grievances expired this morning. Public opinion is that drastic action is necessary for the suppression of a Europeanmade Samoan revolution.