MAU’S GRIEVANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 382, 16 June 1928, Page 1

MAU’S GRIEVANCE

“NO SAY IN OUR LAWS” SAMOAN CHIEFS’ LETTER On June 1, THE SUN’S Apia correspondent sent an acount of the first blood shed in connection with the Mau movement, culminating in the arrest of Leota, a prominent chief and one of the leaders of the Mau. The Sun has to-day received a letter from Apia, signed by the leader of the Mau party, L. Tamasese,*and by Autagavaia, S. Fuataga, Lelana, Lavea, Siune, Lagaaia, Ifopo, Afoa and Lofipo. The first portion of the letter embodies the gist of our correspondent’s report. The communication, according to Tamasese, has been forwarded to the Manchester “Guardian,” the Sydney “Daily Guardian,” the New York “Times,” the Honolulu “Advertiser,” and the Chicago “Tribune.” The letter concludes as follows: “We wish the world to know that though Samoa is our own country, we have no say whatever about us. We of the laws. We had no say when the Three Powers squabbled about us. We had no say about being handed over to Germany. We had no say in the Great War and its results (though some of our people fought on the side of the Allies). “We had no say in being handed over to New Zealand. We have a system of law and Government put upon us which we did not ask for and did not wish for. Many of the laws have taken away our ancient rights and customs. We have no say in making or altering these laws. If we disobey them we are wounded with bayonets. We have no arms whatever. We have no one to protect us from our ‘protector.’ Samoa has never ceded any of her rights. She has never been conquered. has she done that she should have mistreatment inflicted upon her?’ ’