The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1919. PEACE TREATY MANDATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1919. PEACE TREATY MANDATES.

Questions relating to the Samoan mandate, especially that concerning indentured, labor, were exercising the minds of members of the New Zealand Parliament at about the same time as Mr. Lloyd George was referring to the difficulty over the Turkish mandate, in consequence of the uncertainty as to America undertaking "to share the burdens of civilisation outside ' the United States." The Peace Treaty mandates by no means partake of the nature of war honors. On the contrary, they entail obligations and responsibilities that will inevitably prove a source of trouble and anxiety to the countries concerned. So far adt Samoa is concerned, Mr. Massey pointed out that New Zealand did not want the island because it was fertile, the operating reason being that the Dominion could not afford to be threatened by an enemy in its vicinity, and if New Zealand had not accepted the mandate it must have gone, said Mr. Massey, to a foreign power. This assertion, however, must be taken with a grain of salt, for it is probable that, in default of New Zealand, the mandate would have gone to Australia. Apparently the only serious objection that was raised in the recent debate on the Samoan mandate in the Dominion Parliament was that concerning indentured labor. There is far more than sentiment in the opposition to such labor. It is a matter of principle that in no part of the British Empire should there be any system of labor that could be regarded as slavery. There is no disputing the fact that, under the German regime in Samoa, imported Asiatic labor was forced •to work under conditions which were actual slavery. It may be claimed this could not be the case under New Zealand rule, but those who know the class from which this indentured labor is firawn are well aware that nothing short of harsh discipline is effective. The choice of evils was, therefore, limited to either employing Asiatic labor or letting the island go to waste, as the natives will only work to grow their own limited food requirements. Under the circumstances, as the Dominion has to take over all the assets of the Germans in Samoa just as they existed when the island was captured, there was no help for it but to accept the position as it stood and leave reforms to be gradually carried out. The task may not be a congenial one, but manifestly it would be foolish to take any other course. Mr. Ngata is hopeful that, in time, the Samoans may be educated to work, and he pleaded that the first consideration should not be that of trade, but the happiness of the people. There is soundness in this argument, provided the natives are stimulated to a life of usefulness instead of laziness. Samoa is to be New Zealand's care. There may be troubles, but a country that has uplifted the Maoris may be trusted to eventually make good material out of the Samoaaß. The position with regard to the mandate over Turkey is a vastly different matter, for it bristles with probable troubles and complications, and might well involve the United States in armed conflict. The Americans, as Mr. Lloyd George points out, have been in the habit of accusing Britain of "grabbing" land at every opportunity, but now that they are faced with the administration of Turkey they are forced to realise that Britain is undertaking a great civilising duty at a great cost in various parts of the world. Britain and Prance have their hands full, and can take over ho additional burdens, while America, to whom the people who have been living in the shadow of a great tyranny for centuries were appealing for protection, should not shirk her responsibilities in furthering the world's peace. Yet America is holding back, possibly not altogether, but temporarily, and delaying the carrying out of the Peace Treaty—delaying the disarmament of Britain, for until the Turkish problem js settled there is no knowing what may 1 happen. President Wilson at the

Peace Conference represented, his country, and it is unthinkable that the United States Senate should succeed in nullifying the President's action. The mandates .under the treaty are absolutely essential to the future peace of the world, and should be loyally and promptly accepted and carried out in the interests of humanity at large.