GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 5

GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA

NEW ZEALAND'S MANDATORY POWER.

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY.

Received 12.30 a.m., April 10. LONDON, April 8

Official: Referring to a telegram from New Zealand to London newspapers, which quote a section of the New Zealand press as being opposed to the Dominion accepting mandatory control of Samoa, Mr Mnssey states that he* is agreeable to purely British control, but as previously explained, the Allied Powers are opposed to direct annexation of. former German Colonies. Therefore there is no alternative to New Zealand mandatory dontrol exccepfc the probability of similar Occ'ipation*by a Power other than British. This, in the circumstance^ is surely an unthinkable humiliation. Moreover, Samoa can be made to pny its way. No garrison will 'w required, ami its trade will be valuable to New Zealand, it is considered by competent authorities that Samoa is one of the most important strategic and trading' centres in the Pacific. New Zealanl newspapers also state tha.t our administration of th« Cook Islands has failed, this proving our incapacity for accepting control of Samoa. This statement is unfair in effect and inaccurate. The British Government authorities say our administration of the Cook Islands has been undoubtedly a success.