THREATENED CRISIS IN SAMOA

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 1

THREATENED CRISIS IN SAMOA

Legislator Reveals Grave Disaffection

HON. O. F. NELSON STATES HIS CASE

Banishment For Those Who Criticise Administration

GRIEVANCES MAY BE PLACED BEFORE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

CLAIMING to be the emissary of a grievously-wronged people, the Hon. O. F. Nelson, leader of the Citizens’ Committee in Samoa, arrived at Auckland by the Tofua yesterday. Though at present enjoying the free movement which is the prerogative of every British subject, he is virtuallly a deportee from Samoa, and left the Islands with the knowledge, conveyed to him by a letter from the Administrator, that he might be deported on his return. Partly to avoid that complication, he is going to England from New Zealand, and here and abroad he intends to continue his efforts on behalf of his followers.

“ A LL we ask is a judicial inquiry, by men competent to investigate every phase of the Samoan problem,” said Mr. Nelson, in an interview with THE SUN.

“We do not want a Parliamentary investigation, with its attendant political shading and pressure. But we are satisfied that a tribunal of judges, examining all the evidence to be gathered in the group, would return a verdict that would vindicate our opposition to the existing militaristic administration.”

“I was born in Samoa. I have lived there all my life. But when I go back there, I may be deported.” Thus Mr. Nelson defined his own position, showing how he is practically an exile from his native island. Immediately before leaving Samoa Mr. Nelson received from the administrator. Sir George Richardson, a letter which informed him he was liable to summary deportation on his return. CAMPAIGN OF COERCION Mr. Nelson claims to be in New Zealand as the emissary of a wronged people. Once again, on their behalf, he intends to protest against the principles employed in the administration of Samoa. Though Mr. W. Nosworthy. Minister of External Affairs, recently visited Samoa, Mr. Nelson asserts that he did not conduct a thorough investigation. “He saw only what he wanted to see. When a deputation interviewed him. he told us before we started that our representations had made us liable to deportation from the Islands.” Mr. Nelson contends that there has been a campaign of intimidation and coercion in the Islands. Efforts have been made to stifle criticism of the administrator’s methods. This man, who arrived in Auckland yesterday—it is by no reason his first visit he is well-known here —is a personality of the Pacific. A well-to-do merchant of Samoa, he has business interests that extend beyond the shores of the Pacific. In his veins, as well as the strain inherited from a British father, courses high-caste Samoan blood, and in the vibrant quality of his voice there rings a sense of oppression—-a suggestion that injustice. real or fancied, loads his utterances with bitterness. BLOODSHED PREDICTED

"There will be bloodshed in Samoa,” he predicted, and added that, were deportation to be his lot, the Samoan people would rise in militant protest Once already the Citizens’ Committee, which General Richardson assailed, had exerted its influence to prevent strife. That was when two chiefs. Afamagasa and Faumwina were banished to Apolima. The indignity to which the two high-born chiefs were subjected had tried the temper of the

natives, and only the intervention of the Citizens’ Committee had prevented serious developments.

The Administration had made the Citizens’ Committee the target of much abuse. Its members had been assailed as seditionists and agitators, actuated by the basest motives.

“J have no hesitation in saying,” said Mr. Nelson, “that the Citizens’ Committee* represents the bulk of Samoa’s population. On the morning that we interviewed Mr. Nosworthy, six thousand natives thronged round -the building in which the deputation took place. It was only through our intercession that trouble did not occur.

“Among the members of the Citi zens’ Committee are the three elected Legislative Councillors —myself, Mr. Westbrook, and Mr. Williams.

“I may explain that the Legislative Council consists of ten members, six Government nominees, who obviously cannot be anything but the supporters or puppets of the administrator, the administrator himself, and three elected members. For the last election we three, of the Citizens’ Committee, were opposed by a Government ticket. We were stigmatised as the opposition, we were decried in the Government newspaper, and in pamphlets and public addresses. But we carried the poll, with 70 per cent, of the votes.

“The people’s voice at the polls clearly showed whom they supported. If the administratorship could be decided by vote, in the same way, the unpopularity of the existing system would be equally well proven.” Petition and counter-petition had been circulated. The later document had been intended to offset the freelysigned petition the Citizen’s Committee had presented to the Government. Its sponsors had said it was signed by 150 of the 222 white people on the electoral roll. He could prove, however, that many of the signatories were not on the roll. Ostensibly the petition was sponsored by a Mr. Cobcroft and a Mr. Meyer, the latter an ex-German planter. Mr. Cobcroft was one of those who took part in the inaugural meeting of the Citizens’ Committee. Apparently he has changed his views. A Government representative, I have it on the word of the head of the mission, canvassed for signatures in the Catholic Mission in Samoa. He was unsuccessful.” It was easy to understand why some had signed the petition. Men under financial obligation to the Government were not likely to refuse to sign. Many of them, and others who were Government servants —equally bound by the powers—had come to him and said; “We do not wish to sign, but what can we do?” Rather than see them suffer, he had answered, “Sign.” The banishment of chiefs and other individuals furnished further evidence of the Administration’s methods. A chief whose family had cherished honoured titles for generations was shorn of his dignity and described simply as a “male” —an affront to a man of noble descent. More, he could be ordered, at three days’ notice, to leave his home and dwell in another locality, remaining there during the pleasure of the Administrator. BANISHED TO APOLIMA Thus had Afamagasa and Faumuina, the two chiefs sent to Apolima, been

treated. They were to remain there during General Richardson’s pleasure. Yesterday Mr. Nelson received word that another highly-placed chief had been similarly treated. “The people will not submit to these indignities. They are rapidly coming to the conclusion that General Richardson is simply endeavouring to provoke a trial of strength. “Through the powers with which the Administrator has been vested, no man is safe. Any man not on the .side of the Government may be evicted from his home. We who have lived in Samoa all our lives are in fear of our security. “I have no doubt that, had I remained in Samoa, I should now have been deported as a traitor to my countrymen. I, -whose whole lifeinterest is bound up with Samoa and the Samoan people, accused of treacli ery to the race; it is infamous.” MR. NELSON'S PLANS

Mr. Nelson hopes, while he is in New Zealand, to see Mr. Coates and again make representations to him All through, he says, the Citizens’ Committee has acted constitutionally, and has brought its complaints directly under the Government’s notice. Underhand methods were scorned. Failing to interest the New Zealand Government in the case of his countrymen, Mr. Nelson will exploit other ways of having their plight, as he secs it, relieved. London newspapers, he pointed out yesterday, have already expressed concern about conditions in Samoa. He hinted that the League of Nations, if not Imperial statesmen in England, might take a hand if New Zealand still declined to do so.

“I am not going back to Samoa.” he said ,“but will probably go on to England from New Zealand. Should I return to Samoa, I have no doubt I would be deported. While I do not mind suffering that indignity if the cause of Samoa will be helped, I feel that at present I can serve it better by staying away. I

know that there would be an uprising if I were to be deported. Any of my colleagues on the Citizens’ Committee is liable to the same treatment. Mr. A. G. Smyth, who is coming to New Zealand next week, has been threatened. I could be sent away without trial of any sort.” “Where else in the world beside Samoa under the present administration, could such an outrage be attempted?”