FUTURE OF SAMOA

Otago Witness, Issue 3325, 5 December 1917, Page 6

FUTURE OF SAMOA

MR MASSEY'S EMPHATIC • DECLARATION. That the New Zealand Government be asked to stipulate when peace negotiations aro in progress that as a basis of future security in the Pacific, German Samoa be retained as a British possession ; and, In view of the future development, the Government be further requested to appoint a trade commissioner to cultivato commercial relationship bo tween the island and the dominion.

" There is an important proposal set forth very modestly, but it expresses what it moans, which I should like to deal with,'' remarked Mr Massey, referring to the above remit, at the Conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday. "I speak with some authority," he added, " because I took part in the discussion at the Imperial Conference. A good deal has been done in the way of impressing upon the gentlemen at the_ head of affaire in Great Britain the opinion of the people of Australia and New Zealand with regard to these islands in the Pacific formerly occupied by Germany. I am now sneaking on behalf "of the Minister of Finance as well as myself. We lost no opportunity of impressing this upon the_ people at the head of affairs in the British Government and the Imperial War Cabinet: that any proposal to give back the islands with which we aro more concerned —Samoa and German New Guinea, and other islands formerly _ in German possession,—l am not interfering with what has been done by the Japanese—would be very bitterly resented by the citizens of the British nation in the South Pacific; and, in saying that, I believe wo have succeeded in impressing the British statesmen with our point of view. That will bo seen later on. It is quite likely, however, that we will bo given another opportunity of again impressing upon British statesmen the opinions held by the British people in these dominions with regard to allowing the Germans to come back to establish themselves in the Pacific. I say another opportunity will probably come, and I am thinking now of the possibilities of the Peace Conference. We aro not thinking so much of' the value of the islands—and undoubtedly these islands and New Guinea are of great value, —but if Samoa were given back to Germany, what would happen? It would mean that Samoa would bo the headquarters of a German fleet, and they would establish there a wireless station and a submarine base. It is just as well that the British Government has been told already that we are not going to have the Germans back in these islands in these seas if we can possibly help it; and if any opportunity is given to Germany to reoccupy these islands there is likely to be serious trouble among the people of these dominions, and among the people of New Zealand particularly." Mr Massey also said he favoured the appointment of trade commissioners in the islands, and ho strongly advocated the cultivation of closer relationship between Fiji and New Zealand by means of improved steam communication and other means.