SAMOAN TROUBLE DEVELOPS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 8

SAMOAN TROUBLE DEVELOPS

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TAKEN CRUISERS ORDERED TO TERRITORY STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER A critical situation lias developed in Western Samoa. Through the attitude of the Mau, the official police, it is reported, are powerless io act, and as danger to life and property might arise, Cabinet has decided, entirely as a precautionary measure, to dispatch the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede to the mandated territory.

The reasons for the Government’s action were set out in the following statement, which was issued by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G Coates) on Saturday:— "Recent advices received from Western Samoa indicate that all efforts to bring about either a reconciliation between the Mau Committee and the loyal section of the native population, or in any way to mitigate the defiant attitude of the disaffected chiefs who constitute tlie centre of the Mau movement in Apia, have failed. "The latest messages from the Administrator state that a serious position has arisen, and that any action taken by the official police will be regarded as a signal for general retaliation by the Mau against Europeans, the result, therefore, being that the entire police force is powerless, and the maintenance of peace improbable. "I am glad to assure the public that up till the present time, owing to the patience and forbearance which has been exercised, there have been no actual breaches of the peace, but as danger to life and property might arise if steps are taken to restore the normal functions of government without adequate force behind authority, Cabinet

has decided, entirely as a precautionary measure, to dispatch the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede to the mandated territory.” “ACTION ILL-ADVISED” STATEMENT BY LEADER OF OPPOSITION By Telegraph.—press association. Wltangarei, February 19. It was not until after bis meeting at Whangarei that Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, learned definitely that the Dunedin and Diomede had been ordered to Samoa. Mr. Holland lias handed the following statement to the Press in relation io the incident: — “The Government’s action is extremely ill-advised, and will probably only serve to inflame the position in Samoa. The people of New Zealand have been told repeatedly that the deportation of the Hon. O. F. Nelson and his colleagues would mean the end of trouble in Samoa. Indeed, more than one misleading report has been sent cut conveying the idea that matters commenced to settle down after the departure of Messrs. Nelson and Smyth. Exactly the contrary was the case, however, and the real effect of the deportations has been to further incense the Samoans. The sending of warships, to Samoa mav. have the effect of precipitating trouble, and it would have been much better if the Government had taken the sensible way out of the dfficultv. A return to normal conditions can only be secured by an abandonment of the ‘big stick’ policy. Deportation and banishment orders should cease, and the denorted Samoans and Europeans should be allowed to return to their homes. General Richardson should be recalled without delay, and the people of Samoa should lie notified that the promises made to them in the name of New Zealand will be honoured; that we will recognise the right of the Samoan people to an effective voice in the government of their own country; and finally that there will be an application of the principles of justice with the right of fair trial in every case where offences are alleged on the part of either Europeans or Samoans.”