MORE TROUBLE IN SAMOA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10767, 20 February 1928, Page 5

MORE TROUBLE IN SAMOA

WARSHIPS DESPATCHED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, February 18. Following the receijit of wireless messages from Samoa, a meeting of Cabinet was held to consider the situation. At the conclusion of the meeting the Prime Minister, Right Honorable J. G. Coates, made the following statement: “Recent advices received from AA'estern 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 the 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 or 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 tlie public that up till the present time, owing to the patience and forbearance which lias 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 lias decided, entirely as a precautionary measure, to dispatch the cruisers Dunedin and Diomede to th© mandated territory.”