SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1920, Page 5

SAMOA.

MANDATE RULE OPPOSED. WIDER POWERS FOR DOMINION'S. NEW ZEALANDERS' STRIKING SPEECHES. j/y Telegrunl).—rress Assn.—Copyrleht. Received Nor. 3, 8.35 p.m. London, Nov. 2. Lord Liverpool presided Hie Coloni.-iI Institute when Sir James Allen reml .i i'nper on the mandate for Western Samoa. Dwelling on tlie new status which the Dominions had acquired under the Peaee Treaty, Sir Jamc-i Allen favored the fullest and freest discussion of this development, even before the next Imperial Conference, in order that the conference might have the advantage of the best bruins in tlu* Umpire. He regarded the suggestion of an Imperial Parliament as impracticable, while im Imperial Conference was ephemeral. They wanted some form of Imperial Council where Empire views could be co-ordinated, and which would advise tho Crown on all Empire questions. Referring t<> tho mandates, he said there were divergent, views as to tlie authority whence tho Dominions receive the mandates, and whether they should legislate in their own Parliaments, or whether it was not more in accord with Imperial ideals to utilise the legislation already provided by the Imperial Parliament. Sir James Allen instanced South Africa treating her mandate as coming from the Allied and associated Powers, while New Zealand utilised an Imperial Act, known as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act. These differences showed the need for the League of Nations defining the position. Tho covenant seemed to contemplate direct communication with the League as regards reports on the working of the mandates, but the system was likely to lead to difficulties, owing to the contrary views expressed by separate Dominions under oije Crown. South Africa suggested an examination of the reports by the League's Council through a sort of clearing-house in London. Sir James Allen outlined the work New Zealand was already doing in Samoa, and he looked forward to some day when Samoans might become, like the Maoris, members of the New Zealand Parliament.

Lord Liverpool whole-heartedly concurred with Sir .James Allen, and said that absolute prohibition of liquor in Samoa was equally applicable to whites as to natives.

Sir .Joseph Ward followed somewhat sensational, eliciting the enthusiasm of the audience by denouncing the mandatory system, condemning President Wilson's participation in the Peace Conference, attacking the secrecy of the Imperial Conferences, and advocating an elective Imperial Council sitting publicly. He said, speaking from the experience of many conferences, that whenever a discussion of Dominions' importance affected British politics, it was marked secret and confidential, "What right have the rulers of Britain to prevent the people of the Dominions knowing what their representatives are saying or doing?" he added. He rejoiced that Sir James Allen had characterised the Imperial Conference as ephemeral. He wanted Samoa handed over unconditionally to New Zealand or Britain. 'Similarly New Guinea to Australia or Britain," otherwise, when Germany joined the League of Nations she would participate equally in the administration of Samoa and New Guinea. President Wilson should never have been present at the Conference any more than the King. Without President Wilson there would have been 110 mandatories. Owing to President Wilson's persistence, the Peace Conference was compelled to accept the mandatories, otherwise a pettlement would hare been impossible. The peace terms contained the germs of a new war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assii.