The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1922. CONTROL OF SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1922. CONTROL OF SAMOA.

The people of New Zealand have every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which Sir Francis Bell handled, at Geneva, the interpretation of the Dominion s rights and duties under the mandate for the administration of Samoa. Without in any way reflecting on the personnel or methods of the permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, it is apparent that ’.he commission entertains an exaggerated notion of its importance and poivers of control. Whatever may have been the intentions of the framers of the procedure connected with the administrative mandates over ex-German colonies, it is impossible to conceive that it was ever intended the commission should arrogate to itself the business of prescribing how the mandates should be administered. Its proper function is to hold a watching brief on behalf of the League in order to safeguard the objects for which the League ' was created, and in a strictly limited sense to prevent any abuse of power or dangerous policy by those charged with the duty of administering the mandates. Even admitting the commission’s right of criticism, it is quite clear that such criticism should be made to the administering countries, and not to the public, unless such flagrant breaches of trust are committed that the Council of the League arc called upon to deal therewith. The stand taken by Sir Francis Bell, that while New Zealand is anxious and perfectly willing to receive suggestions and advice from either the permanent Mandates Commission or the Council of the League on matters connected with the administration of Samoa, she cannot admit the commission’s power to interpret for her the meaning of the covenant or to dictate the procedure to be adopted, is the only course nnv self-respecting manda-

tory legislature and governmen

could adopt. The fact that Britain selected New Zealand as the mandatory authority over Samoa carries with it the equally pertinent belief that the Dominion was considered worthy of the trust. The logical sequence of this contention is that the New Zealand Government must have a free hand, though under an honorable obligation to the League to legislate for and aum..aster Western Samoa in accordance with the terms and intentions of the League Covenant. That obligation is dual, firstly, as a member of the League; secondly, as a mandatory. In the latter capacity the Go> ■ . cent of the Dominion is technically the deputy of the Crown, and Sir Francis Bell made a telling point when he said: “What His Majesty does in the right of his Dominion, he does on the advice of his Ministers in that Dominion, and not of the Ministers of Britain.” There is no contravening such a judicial pronouncement of New Zealand’s position as regards Samoa. If reports, especially those containing adverse criticisms founded on unsubstantial and untrustworthy information, are to be made public before being discussed with the mandatory Powers, then it is inevitable the League will suffer in honor and prestige. Common justice demands that any complaints or grievances should be fully and fairly investigated by the Mandates Commission in conjunction with the mandatory Power concerned, prior to any report being made to the League Council. Unhappily the commission has not acted in this way, but allowed grave charges to be made public before the defence was heard, a course that naturally arouses resentment. In making a firn, stand against such objectionable methods, Sir Francis Bell has done excellent service, not only for the Government of New Zealand, but for all the mandatory authorities. His summary of what is due to these authorities is terse and impressive. “We require,” he said, “to legislate, and we must legislate in accordance with the careful exercise of our discretion.” On no other terms or conditions eould the New Zealand Government continue its administration of Samoa. New Zealand, having attained a national status, cannot be treated as a mere constable of police acting under the orders of superior officers, and if the Mandates Commission held this erroneous view, Sir Francis Bell has done his best to stamp out the illusion most effectively, thereby earning the commendation of the people of the Dominion.