THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

Evening Star, Issue 16911, 7 December 1918, Page 5

THE FUTURE OF SAMOA

(By W. C. Macgbegob, K.C.) The vigorous letter from Mr P. C. Freetli in Monday’s ‘ Star ’ regarding the future destiny of Samoa is both interesting and timely. It does not profess to solve the problem of what is to become of (German) Samoa after the war 1 . Hurt question of course can bo settled only at the Peace Conference. But, as Mr Freetli points out, it is essential that the plain people of New Zealand should at all events attempt to make themselves familiar with too mam factors of the problem, before our delegates put forward at the Conference a claim to “ receive ” Samoa as a war trophy—-a prize of our conquering bow and spear! The history of the Samoan Islands during the past 30 years may be briefly stated. At the Convention of Berlin (14th July, 1889) the government of the islands was re-ordered between the tlu'eo Powers interested in them—Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. As might have been expected, years of jealousy and strife followed the condominium. To avert worse happenings, new negotiations were set on foot in 1889 between the three Powers, with the result that Britain withdrew her claims in Samoa altogether, America was satisfied with tho small island of Tutuila, with its fine harbor of Pago-Pago, while tire two larger islands ox Upolu and Savaii were ceded to German officials then ruled these two islands till 1914 (from their headquarters near Apia), and on the whole”governed them fairly well. As we are all aware, a garrison of New Zealand troops has occupied German Samoa ever since the earliest days of the Great War. We do not all appear to recognise, however, that without sea-pow-or New Zealand itself could never have captured Samoa, nor could wo hold it for day. Our troops were convoyed to Samoa by allied warships, and had not the British Navy kept constant command of the Seven Seas ever since, our isolated garrison would have been throughout in a helpless and hopeless condition. Fortunately Great Britain and her allies have won the war, tho British fleet is still in being, and triumphant, while the German flag has disappeared from tho Pacific.

What, then, is to become of Gorman Samoa? By which of the Powers are its destinies to be controlled for the future ? To these questions Mr Freeth gives no definite answer. His letter, In fact, is more suggestive than constructive. lie raises various difficulties, without attempting to settle them for us. It appears to me, however, that certain broad conclusions emerge more or less clearly from the facts of the case, as follows :

1. Samoa must not be allowed to revert to the control of Germany (to be used as a potential submarine base and wireless telegraph station). 2. Samoa can be effectively controlled only by a Power having the command of the surrounding sea. 3. Now Zealand at present is not such a Power, having, in fact, no fleet of her own. 4. If New Zealand wishes to “ receive” Samoa, she must in some way become such a Power. 6. New Zealand can become such a Power only by becoming an integral part of the British Empire; in fact, as well as in name. 6. The only way in which New Zealand can begin to do this is for ns to assume our proportionate share of the cost of the British Navy, on which for the future must devolve the task of controlling and protecting Samoa, as it has protected our own Dominion for the past 70.years, at the cost of the British taxpayer 1 Curiously enough, the very day that Mr Freeth’s able letter appeared in your columns, the Colonial Secretary (Mr Walter Long) stated in a speech at Bristol, aocoring to a recent cablegram, that “ the only solution of the Pacific problem was that the islands bo included in the Empire.” From a private letter received by me from New York the other day, I believe that the American Government will accept that solution of the problem at the Peace Conference. In the meantime, what are we New Zealanders going to do about it? The question still remains unanswered : Is New Zealand prepared to “receive” Samoa as a British dependency, and to pay (or share) the cost of its administration? To me it would appear that the answer to that question must depend on a previous and larger question: Are the citizens of New Zealand ready to accept the burden as well as the privilege of Empire by assuming for the first time their true proportion of the naval defence of the British Commonwealth of Nations?