DEADLOCK IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 200, 25 August 1933, Page 3

DEADLOCK IN SAMOA.

GENERAL HART AND THE MAU A messago sent by radio from the Mau in Samoa to the "Samoan Guardian", in Auckland on Monday last stated that when General Hart met the executive of the Mau and announced that all preparations for the holding of a fono were cancelled, owing to the 'Mau insisting on Mr. Nelson being one of the delegates, the Administrator stated that the Samoans must now disperse to their homes, or a naval force from tho Veronica, then in Apia, would assist the local military police in restoring order. Following this, a Press Association messago was received from Apia yesterday stating that the rumour of interference by the Veronica was "false, and that this had been admitted to the Administrator by the Mau, who agreed that no such statement had been made by General Hart. A further inquiry was made yesterday by radio from Auckland, and a reply received this morning states that the Mau secretary presented the last letter of tho Mau to the Administrator on August 19, and this confirmed tho conversation of tho previous day between the Mau committee and the Administrator. The letter also contained the protest of the Mau at the cancelling of the fono arrangements, and the intimation of General Hart that he would have naval men from the Veronica to assist tho local police in restoring order. General Hart disputed the reference to tlio Veronica, and the Mau replied that when he referred to the use of naval assistance they naturally assumed he referred to the Veronica, then in Apia, as there was no naval garrison there. In deference to General Hart's wish the reference to the Veronica was withdrawn, but the remainder of the letter of protest, including that against the use of naval force, was presented as drafted. The Man denied circulating any rumour, and contended that the inference drawn from General Hart's reference to naval action was an obvious one.