SAMOA AND NEW GUINEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 December 1917, Page 7

SAMOA AND NEW GUINEA.

FUTURE OP THE ISL'ANDS. MR. MASSEY'S DECLARATION. WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. "That the New Zealand Government be asked to stipulate when peace negotiations are in progress, that as a basis- of future security in the Pacific, German Samoa be retained as a British posscssb/F, and in view of the future development the Government be further requested to appoint a trade commissioner to cultivate commericial relations between the island and the Dominion," was a remit discussed at the Chambers of Commerce Conference to-day. "That is an important proposal set forth' very modestly, but it expresses what it means," remarked Mr Massey, "I speak with some authority," he added, "because I took part in the discussion at the Imperial Conference." The Minister for Finance and be had lost no opportunity of impressing upon the people at tlite head of affairs, in the British Government and the Imperial War Cabinet, that any proposal to give back the islands with which New Zealand was more concerned —Samoa and German New Guinea and other islands formerly in German possession—would be very bitterly resented by the citizens of the British nation in the South Pacific, and he believed they succeeded in impressing the British statesmen - with their point of view. That would be seen later on. It was quite likely. however, that they would be given another opportunity of impressing upon the British statesmen the opinions held in these Dominions with regard to allowing the Germans to come back and establish themselves in the Pacific. He was thinking now of t]he possibilities of a peace conference. New Zealand was not thinking so ' much of the value of the islands, and undoubtedly these islands and New Guinea were of great value, but if Samoa, were given back to Germany it would mean that these islands would be the headquarters of a German fleet, and the Germans would establish there a wireless station and a submarine base. "It is just as well that the British Government has been told already that we are not going to have the Germans back in these islands in these seas if we can possibly help it." said Mr Massey, "and if any opportunity is given to Germany to reoeeupy these islands, there is likely to be serious trouble among the people of the Dominions and among the people of New Zealand particularly." Mr Massey added that he favoured the appointment of trade commissioners in the islands, and he strongly advocated the cultivation of closer relationship between Fiji and New Zealand by means of improved steamer communication and other means.