SAMOAN CRISIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 11

SAMOAN CRISIS

(Continued from Page 1.)

Not Despondent: Though Rejected

EMISSARIES RETURN GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE TNISAPPOINTED, but not despondent, is the attitude of Messrs. O. F. Nelson and A. G. Smyth, who returned to Auckland this morning, after making unsuccessful efforts to induce the Government to change its Samoan policy. Under the terms of the Samoa Amendment Bill, passed by both Houses, both Mr. Smyth and Mr. Nelson are liable to deportation the moment they set foot in Samoa. For the present they are remaining in New Zealand, and later intend to go abroad. Mr. Nelson is going to England, and will continue his agitation there, if he gets no satisfaction in New Zealand. “No surrender,” is his motto. GAINED A POINT He considers, however, that the cause of which he is the leading emissary, has gained a moral victory through the Government consenting to set up a select Parliamentary committee to investigate the petitions presented by dissatisfied Samoans. Though it refused any other form of inquiry, he considers the Parliamentary investigation may serve the same effect. It begins its work to-mor-row, and may require witnesses to be brought from Samoa. Failing that, the committee itself may go to Samoa, as the Citizens’ Committee has over 100 witnesses to call. Both sides have retained counsel. Early in the proceedings the Government consulted Mr. M. Myers, K.C., concerning phases of the dispute, and subsequently the petitioners secured the services of Sir John Findlay. Curiously enough, they were introduced to him through the legal firm in which Sir Francis Bell, a stout supporter of the Government’s attitude, is a partner. Mr. Smyth mentioned this morning that some of the committee had expressed the view that General Richardson, Administrator, should be called to give evidence. INTERVIEWS WITH MR. COATES Hitherto unpublished aspects of his representations in Wellington were related by Mr. Nelson this morning. At the first interview with Mr. Coates, the Prime Minister apparently had in mind certain concessions, but was dissuaded by Mr. Nosworthy, who was present, and who observed that such an action would amount to unconditional surrender. Mr. Coates subsequently said he would like to have a heart-to-heart talk with Mr. Nelson, who replied that he was at the Prime Minister’s disposal, but nothing more was heard until the following Wednesday, when a message delivered to the Midland Hotel stated that Mr. Coates would like to see Mr. Nelson. Half-an-hour later, when Mr. Nelson saw Mr. Coates, the Prime Minister denied all knowledge of the message. They discussed various matters, however, without arriving at any satisfactory conclusions. According to Mr. Nelson, the Prime Minister’s attitude was that the Government must not be proved wrong. “My impression from Mr. Coates,” said Mr. Nelson, “was that the Government now had to stick to its policy, whether that policy was right or wrong.” Mr. Nelson said, further, that he taxed Mr. Coates with failure to represent the true position in the House. Before leaving Wellington, Mr. Smyth was informed by the Prime Minister’s secretary that Mr. C6ates thought nothing was to be gained by the deferred “heart-to-heart talk,” unless Mr. Nelson had anything fresh to bring up. Mr. Nelson had nothing. THAT “WHO’S WHO” “It was just filth,” said Mr. Nelson, referring to the tactics of the Government in issuing a “Who’s who” of those concerned in the agitation. “All they could get against me,” he said, “is that I have German relatives. “I will tell you the true position. My German relative is Robert Wetzel, the son of a former German planter, who married my sister. “His son was in Germany when the war broke out, and was conscripted at the age of 17. Since his return to Samoa he has been the guest and friend of the Administrator. His father was a man honoured throughout the territory, and representatives of the New Zealand Government attended his funeral. “But, is it anything to do with me, that my sister married a German—and does that affect my character?” He reiterated his determination to see the thing through to the end. He was convinced that the New Zealand Government would ultimately have to alter its policy.