THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1930, Page 9

THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.

EFFORTS AT SETTLEMENT. MR. J. S. FLETCHER'S VIEWS. With a view to effecting a settlement of the Samoan problem on conciliatory lines, Mr. J. S. Fletcher. M.P., has forwarded the following letter to the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet: — "I am. impelled to write this letter for two ' reasons. I find myself utterly opposed to your proposed action in Samoa, wiping out the Mau by force, and, secondly, since I made the suggestion to the Prime Minister that the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata should accompany the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, so many people have gone out of their way to intimate to me that they believe the suggestion is sound. I wish, however, to appeal to you to reconsider the decision as to the Mau. First of all, I believe that law and order are essential in any civilised community, but if the Government succeeds in Samoa in destroying the Mau by force of arms, will it have gained its object? Law and order can only be founded on justice and goodwill. If -\ve wipe out the Mau by force of arms, shall we not leave behind hatred and bitterness instead of peace and goodwill? "I suggest to you that country, as a member of the League of Nations, must first of all exhaust every avenue along peaceful lines to achieve a settlement, and I fimly hold that it would show us to be a much greater people to stretch out the., hand of friendship and ask these people to meet us to try to effect a settlement. "Our actions will be criticised at the bar of international opinion, and I feel sure that failure to achieve a successful peaceful issue on pacific lines cannot draw orth adverse criticism, but failure by coersion will definitely mark us as having failed to carry out our mandate. Onlv as a final resort should force be used. "Again I repeat the suggestion that the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata should accompany Mr. Cobbe, that they should be given powers, not to act as a mediator between the Administrator and the Cabinet, but arcied with full powers to effect a peaceful settlement. No two better men could be found than the two suggested. The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata's great knowledge of Polynesian psychology and the Hon. Cobbe's wide knowledge of men and affairs are the very qualities needed in this crisis. "New Zealand to-day has two rare? living in amity together. This was achieved by negotiation, and not by the sword. It is a great example to us today. What a wonderful tribute it would be to the men of Anzac if on next Anzac Day we could lay on the altar of their sacrifice a new Waitangi between New Zealand and Samoa, replacing hatred, bitterness and strife by peace and the laughter of a great Island race. "Much has been heard in recent years | of the will to power, but believing far more strongly, as I do, in the will to peace, I earnestly appeal to you to j stretch out the hand of friendshpi once more instead of the mailed fist or the military policeman's weapons. "Sincerely yours, "J. S. Fletcher."