“Natives Rejected Revolt Plan”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 13

“Natives Rejected Revolt Plan”

PORT MORESBY, Jan. 24. A native witness told the Supreme Court today that a meeting of natives last September had rejected a scheme to revolt against Australia. The witness. Stahl Salum, aged 28 was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of a former administration clerk. Brian Leonard Cooper Cooper, aggd 24, has been charged that on or about September 15 last he advisedly spoke and published seditious words at Madang. The Crown alleges that Cooper attempted to incite the native people to rise against the Australian admin-

istration in Papua - New Guinea. Cooper has pleaded not guilty. Stahl, the prosecutions principal witness, took five and a-half hours to give his evidence. A Sydney barrister. Mr J. Staunton, appearing for Cooper, cross-exam-ined Stahl tor three hours. Stahl said that on the night of September 15 a group of natives had gathered in a house to discuss Cooper’s suggestions. The talk had been general and everyone present had taken part. Asked what had been said. Stahl answered: “We said Cooper wanted to bring Russians into this place (New Guinea) and bring a Com-

mumst government and this was no good.” Stahl added that the meeting had decided not to spread Cooper’s “talk” or “big trouble would come up.” Earlier, Stahl said he had told Cooper that he believed he was only trying to start a war. He had told him the day after the native meeting: "It is very difficult for us to do this. We cannot do it. I think you are tempting us very strongly. We have cooperative work and local government councils. I think you want to start a war and ruin all this and us.” Stahl, who said he had recently been appointed the first native member of the Papua-

New Guinea Copra Marketing Board, said Cooper had asked the group to tell all native people to seize control m Madang. He had suggested they break into stores for guns and liquor and that they destroy the Madang airstrip, send al! the white people home and if Australia wanted to fight, "Russia and China will make threats.” N Stahl told the Crown Prosecutor (Mr J. Smith) that Cooper had told the natives that Russia had helped the native people of the Congo to get themselves “a new, very fine government and they are all contented.” The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.