SAMOAN MANDATE

Southland Times, Issue 20111, 23 February 1927, Page 11

SAMOAN MANDATE

AN AMERICAN VIEW. Vancouver, January 13. A serious charge against New Zealand's administration of the mandate over Western Samoa is made in an article in the Chicago Tribute, written by its political editor, Mr Parke Brown, and dated from the United States naval station at Tutuila, American Samoa. Mr Brown went to the Philippine Islands with Colonel Thompson, who President Coolidge’s investigator, and who recently reported that the unsatisfactory state of affairs in the Philippines was due to the administrative methods followed by the American army there. Mr Brown, on his way home, visited Australia and the islands. Prominent headlines (Tver the article suggests that the Samoans are chaffing under the rule of New Zealand and that their woes threaten a new test for the League of Nations. Articles written by the foreign staff of the Tribune just now are very sharply critical of anything in the way of British administration; xMr Brown’s restrictions should be read in the light of that knowledge. Nevertheless, uncontradicted as they are, they leave their impression on the people of the United States. The complete text of Mr Brown’s article follows:

“Trouble is brewing in Western Samoa, the former German Islands, now administered by New Zealand under a mandate from the League of Nations. There is little expectation that the trouble will reach a point of violence, but it is probable that, before the political disturbance has terminated, the subject will be brought to the attention of the League. It has already progressed so far that a special delegation of Western Samoans will go to New Zealand in January to lay their alleged grievance before the Department of External Affairs.

“These developments are of particular interest in American Samoa, where recent events are construed as establishing the wisdom of the policy of Governor Bryan and his predecessor in trying to guide the natives, instead of attempting to force them.

“The situation faced by the New Zealand Administrator, Sir George Richardson, a major-general of the World War, is more difficult than the one which confronts the United States in its part of the Samoan group, pie largest island in the American section is Tutuila, which comprises only forty square miles. The three smaller islands, the Manua group, combined, comprise less than eighteen square miles. The two main islands of the old German part are Upolu, 430 square miles, and Savaii, 700 square miles. “Th? total population of the American ‘half is less than 9000, including, outside of the naval personnel, only a few whites, who seldom attempt to meddle in public affairs. In Western Samoa, the population is 40,000, including 2498 registered as Europeans. Of that number, only 446 are of pure European blood, the others being classified as such because the law permits them to register as Europeans if they have any white blood. These Europeans, of whom 222 are registered as voters, elect three members to the Legislative Council. The other six members, comprising a majority, are named by the Administrator, and are alleged by the Opposition to be mere puppets. Three incumbents, two whites and one man of mixed nationality, are active in the present agitation, and, in the election of November 30, won two to one over the candidates said to have had the backing of Governor Richardson. This victory of the insurgents has added fuel to the flames. “Rumblings have been persistent for a year, but the organised movement was made public at two meetings in October and November. There were more than 600 present at the first meeting, both whites and Samoans. Governor Richardson considered the second meeting serious enough to send an aide with an emphatic letter, demanding the dissolution of the meeting in the market place as soon as it was called to order. The letter said the gathering was a thing unheard of in the annals of colonial administration.

“The effect of bringing the natives into the European political arena is unwise, and likely to cause trouble,’ the letter said. ‘lnevitably, the result must be to disturb the peace and good government of the territory. Every person knows what that means.’ Despite this dictum, the meeting decided by an overwhelming vote to proceed with its business —and did. DECISIONS OF MEETING. “One of the resolutions adopted provided for writing a letter to the Government of New Zealand, complaining of conditions, and sending a committee, including the three elected members of the Legislative Council and twelve others —six Samoans and six whites—to Wellington, seat of the New Zealand Government. “Some of the specific demands were for wider elective representation for the Samoans in the Legislative Council, investigation of the revenues and expenditures, reduction of salaries and the number of employees, investigation of the debt of £12,000 to New Zealand, elimination of the £1 annual medical tax collected from adult males, repeal of the laws interfering with Samoan customs, and the restoration of liquor rights. It was charged that the Administrator wronged the chiefs by taking away their ‘high names’ and even deporting villagers to other villages. “At the second meeting, authorisation was granted for the collection of funds to pay the expenses of the delegation to New Zealand. This has occasioned the second stage of the bitterness. Then there is the case of Famuina, one of the highest chiefs in all Samoa. In fact, he could claim any one of three thrones that existed in the islands years ago. Even without a title, the natives regard him as a king of one district of the island of Upolu and half of the island of Savaii. Famuina is the leader of the dissension among the natives, and, in pursuance of the plan to raise funds, went semi-secretly one night across to Savaii. The action on the case shows the difference between the American policy and that of Governor Richardson. The Governor of American Samoa follows the policy of letting the natives “blow off steam,” but Governor Richardson sent the chief of police in a special boat to Savaii, to bring Famuina back to the capital, Apia. This occurred during the recent visit of the Tribune correspondent to Western Samoa, but how the Administrator handled the case when the chief returned was not learned here. But, even if dismissed with a reprimand, his action in making a technical arrest was certain to arouse the natives. “Even if this rebellious spirit rises high, it is not expected to reach American Samoa, which is eighty miles away. The natives of Western Samoa are not allowed to visit. American Samoa, except on special permission. The further complaints against the New Zealand administration do not apply here. Even the inheritance of ‘high names,’ which sometimes caused unrest in the past, now is handled to the general satisfaction of the chiefs, and their policy, enunciated in the annual advisory congress, or fono, is being followed/