CONCILIATION IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 10

CONCILIATION IN SAMOA.

Those who have unreservedly condemned the policy and the methods of the Administration in Samoa, advocating the use of a very vaguely defined form of conciliation, will perhaps have a better appreciation of the Administrator's difficulties after reading the reply made to Sir George Richardson's proffer of clemency to those members of the Mau who were recently imprisoned. Although it suits the opponents of the Government to misrepresent the situation in Samoa as wholly due to tyrannical methods—the "big stick," as it is commonly phrased—efforts have repeatedly been made to discover and remedy legitimate grievances. A further attempt to restore amicable relations has been made by the Administrator appealing directly to ithose who endeavour to dominate the situation by forcible measures. The only result iB that Tamasese has repeated the demand, which he described in his evidence before the Royal Commission as the first purpose of the Mau, for self-government of Samoa, by Samoans. He and other native chiefs agreed that the protection of the British flag was desirable—as Tamasese naively explained—" to protect this country if they were attacked by other nations." Just what sort of government would prevail in Samoa if it were "entirely without white officials" may bo imagined from its previous history and from Tamasese's own conception, as revealed in his evidence, of the use that might be made of banishment orders. The very fact that such a proposal should still be maintained by influential leaders is a striking testimony of the manner in which the Samoans have been misled by the specious propaganda of the Mau organisation. Mr. Holland is conducting a campaign for the impeachment of the Administrator ; he admits that the mandate sys - tem mnst continue. Tamasese and his colleagues say they have no objection to make against the Administrator personally, but they resent the mandate. Whatever the final solution of the difficulties existing in Samoa, it is manifest that Mr. Holland's prescription would not be efficacious.