Hon. J. G. Cobbe’s Role of Peacemaker in Samoa

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7170, 18 March 1930, Page 7

Hon. J. G. Cobbe’s Role of Peacemaker in Samoa

Valuable Aid to Administrator

Conditions in Country Have Rapidly Improved

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The New Zealand Herkld’s special representative who returned from Samoa by tho steamer Tofua late tonight, writes that the visit of tho Hon. J. G. Cobbo to'Samoa resulted in tho fugitive Mau being brought to conference at Vaimoso with the Minister and the Administrator, Mr. S. S. Allen. Tho conference opened on Monday of last week. Overtures for a truce had previously been carried out by missionaries and others, who displayed great tact. It was tho first occasion on which Mau chiefs had met tho present Administrator. At the first of the fonos, or conferences, the Administrator made three demands: That the Mau organisation should end, tho surrender of the men-wanted by the police and that the chiefs should'meet tho Administrator when summoned to any future fono.

onco and in spite of tho point-blank refusal to disperse, thero -were signs that this resolution was crumbling.

For instance, the Savaii party asked permission to return to its boats and return to its own islands at tho same iimo as tho wanted men surrendered. Advice received on the Tofua during the voyage is to tho effect that tho dispersal is proceeding quietly and the situation was sufficiently reassuring to permit the warship Dunedin to leave for New Zealand last Friday. Minister a Great Help.

Mr. Cobbo’s attitudo throughout was enc of firm support for tho Administration. During the preliminary negotiations, efforts were made to induce him to meet the Mau chiefs alone. This was the old Samoan method of trying out a new man, in tho hope that local authority might be over-ridden. Mr. Cobbe, regarding this only as a last expedient, declined and by every word and action throughout tho fonos, made it evident that tho settlement remained with the Administrator alone. Mr. Cobbo states ho is very satisfied with tho results to date. He makes no claim to having personally brought about tho conference and partial surrender but undoubtedly his presence was a great help. His new outlook brought fresh zeal to tho efforts of those seeking peace.

Mau’s Quiet Defiance. The attitude of the Mau at this stage was ono of quiet defiance, with a trace of tho old arrogance. The Mau was given ono day in which to discuss the demands and at the second meeting, the Mau spokesman asked for further time. His attitudo was distinctly friendly, although there was an undercurrent. It was equally evident that there was an intention to draw out the truce indefinitely. The third meeting on Wednesday produced a decision to give up the wanted men. There was much verbal fencing, the Mau clearly indicating its intention to remain in Vaimoso.

“Inherited Handicaps.” The Administrator did not lack the will to mako an effort but overtures from him alone would have been prejudiced by the inherited handicaps of his position, accentuated by the hate engendered by the recent events. Mr. Cobbo considered the outlook very satisfactory. He is undoubtedly entitled to a largo measure of the credit. The Administrator, in his final speech, dealt in a masterly manner with tho whole question. In referring to self-government, he asked if any Samoan was yet running a large business and if any were fit to take charge of education, the hospitals, tho treasury and the harbours. There was none with the required qualifications. Mr. Allen emphasised the futility of tho Mau petitioning tho League of Nations, His Majesty the King, or any other authority, or relying upon tho promises of outsiders.

On the fourth fono day, when Faumuina gave the defiant answer: Tho Mau will not end,’ he said, “Samoa is the Mau.” Tho Administrator then announced the final end of the truce for Friday morning. Final Chance Accepted. On the Thursday afternoon at a request made through Fuimalcaliifano, a further fono was granted and the last meeting was held on Friday morning, when a letter containing 17 points was presented. Mr. Allen’s reply covered the whole situation. He offered to call a fono representative of tho whole of Samoa almost immediately but Faumuna said the Mau could not join with satisfied and loyal Samoans until tho Mau’s wrongs were redressed. His final words were: “The Mau will not disperse. Do what you like with us ! ” Wanted Men Surrender.

Outside tlie Pale. They now must realise that all these efforts were foredoomed to failure and that the only way was to deal with tho local representative of New Zealand, which was tho representative of Groat Britain, which, in turn, was a member of the Leaguo of Nations. _ This implied meeting together to discuss tho affairs of tho country and this the Mau had consistently refused to do for three years and thus was out of the whole Empire and its dependencies. They were only a body of native people, who took no share in their own Government.

Tho Administrator then announced the end of the truce the following morning and said ho expected the Mau to stand by its promise in regard to the wanted men. That afternoon, tho wanted men marched in a body to tho police station. It was evident throughout that much of tho Mau cloquonco was intended for the rank and file audi-