SAMOA’S FUTURE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15495, 26 April 1918, Page 4

SAMOA’S FUTURE.

MR YEITCH’S VIEWS. hollowing is the Hansard report «l the views of the member for Wanganui on the question of the future of Samoa; The Samoan, question is on© of great importance to the people of New Zealand, and it is rather a difficult one to make up one’s mind about, as there are many aspects of it. First of all the principle of peace without annexation would, if adopted, have a very healthy effect throughout the world. It would bo a great object lesson to those who may have promoted war at any time for the purpose of trying to steal another nation’s land if wo could get the principle affirmed that peace must be made without annexation. In other words, that the nation which makes war for the purpose of trying to steal hia neighbour's land is not going to gain any benefit by so doing. That, as a basic principle, is a very sound one. On the other hand, we must remember that we in the Pacific will be in a very dangerous position indeed if Germany is allowed to resume occupation and con. trol of Samoa. Wo would have to b« armed to the teeth night and day if those dangerous enemies were allowed to live in those adjoining islands. It seems to me that, whatever I may think of the principles of non-annexa» tion, I must say that I feel it my duty to support as far as possible the proposal l<hat New Zealand should retain of the islands of Samoa; and if we cannot got this control ourselves, then ft friendly nation should have those islands. But wc never know what the fortunes of war will bring about: wa never know but what a nation who is our ally to-day may be our enemy at some future lime. The proper thing is for us to do our utmost to retain control of the islands of German Samoa. Samoa is not of any great value to the German people so far as the land itself is concerned. It is not worth lighting about in this groat war; it is not worlh troubling about much f/om their point of view unless they want it for aggressive purposes. Now, if they want it at all, they want it in order that they may make it a menace to our safety here in the Pacific. We must recognise that fact, and if they occupy it for the purpose of menacing us, then it will be necessary fo ns to go in for a huge extent of armament; wo must be armed to the teeth night and day expecting an attack from them at any time. W* must be prepared for it if they re-occu-py that island. That being the case, it is surely our duty to support the proposal of the Government that Samoa should remain in possession of New Zealand. The people of Samoa surely can trust us to see that justice is done to them, and I believe they would not seriously object to being governed from New Zealand. In any case wc must make every possible effort, in the interests of our own safety as a people, to see to it that this land does not go hark under the control of the German people. I recognise that there appears to be a section of the people in New Zealand who are particularly anxious for peace at the present time.

I should say that the whole of the people of the Dominion are very anxious now to see the war brought to a termination, and there is a tendency in some directions, X am afraid, to abandon almost anything and everything to the idea of securing peace— of securing it now lam afraid we will have to recognise tnis fact: that to try to make peace by bargaining with the Germans is utterly futile. The Russians tried it, and the Germans agreed to the Russian terms of no annexation: but as soon as the Russian army was disbanded the Germans marched right into Russia, and, so far as I can learn, they are still going on. their objective being to swallow up as much as possible. The Germans actually repudiated their own signatures almost before the ink was dry. How can we make a bargain with these people, knowing from experience that any bargain we may make with them will be repudiated by t’nem as soon as it suits them to do so? So that, however difficult it may be for us to go on with the fight, however anxious we may be to see it brought to an end, we are face to face with the horrible fact that we are dealing with an enemy who is unscrupulous that we cannot take his woH for anything; consequently we must make up our minds to go on and win the fight right through, or submit to be dominated by them. That position, I say, could not be tolerated by the people of New Zealand at all.