“Hands Are Not Tied”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 460, 15 September 1928, Page 9

“Hands Are Not Tied”

NEW ZEALAND AND SAMOA Must Teach Ward to Obey (United I*. A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 10 a.m. GENEVA, Friday. A SWISS delegate. M. Eappard, who has been long associated with the Mandates Commission, expressed an important opinion on Samoa, during the Sixth Committee's discussion on the Mandates report.

TIE said unrest and resistance had put the Government in the impossible position of being: unable to govern. Thus the administrator. Sir George Richardson, to whom he desired to pay tribute, very properly asked assistance in maintaining order. Two warships were sent, but they were told not to use force, as it might create an unfortunate impression in the League. It was most unfortunate that respect for the League should prevent the Government maintaining order, and governing. If the Government’s ward was naughty, then it must be taught to obey. They desired it to be known that the League in nowise wished to tie the Government’s hands in maintaining order. Such direct comment, not appearing in the Mandates Commission’s report, greatly strengthens the approval of Sir George Richardson’s administration. Also, it more directly suggests that there is no need for timidity in the face of agitation, lest the League be offended. Senor Falacios (Spain), another member of the Mandates Commission, said that with regard to Samoa the

Commission was satisfied that it was not only right, but was the duty of the mandatory Power to take the necessary steos to maintain order. Sir James Parr warmly paid tribute to the Mandates Commission's work in bringing success to the new system of ruling captured territories. It was clearly shown regarding Samoa that New Zealand, instead of being harsh and tyranical, had been over easygoing, but a handful of agitators had made mischief. He welcomed the speeches of M. Rappard and Senor Palacios because they would dispel the idea, prevalent round the Pacific, that the mandatory Power was precluded from being firm for fear of what people at Geneva might think.