THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15317, 4 March 1920, Page 5

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

PRESENCE OF JAPANESE

MR MASSEY'S WARNING

[Pee United Press Association.]

Wellington, March 3

Speaking at the opening of the Chamber of Commerce Conference to-day the Prime Minister referred to conditions ■< in the Pacific Islands and to the importance of the Islands being under AngloSaxon control. In Honolulu, he said, there were 60,000 Japanese, and not all the power of America could get them out. They could practically run the Hawaiian group. "I am perfectly aware; that the Japanese are good friends of1 curs. During the war they played the game, but it may be that the friends of to-day will become the enemies of tomorrow. Now is our opportunity, and we must take advantage of the position fairly and honourably. We must take care that in the future we do not suffer | from the disadvantages we had to face] at the outbreak of the war with enemies at our doors." Sneaking of the New Hebrides, Mr Massey said that something should be done urgently. One never heard of exports to, or imports from, the New Hebrides, and the condition of the natives was appalling. -The joint system of control by Great Britain and France worked badly, and it was the business of Australia and New Zealand to see that something better was done. He had done his "best to arrange matters at Home, but the Peace Conference could not take cognisance of the New Hebrides, as they were not enemy possessions. For the sake of the natives we should do our level best to put things tkere on a proper footing.