Samoan Impasse.

Administrator Returns. — Con ference Plan Rejected. — Expiry of O. F. Nelson’s Banishment.

THE Samoa position continues indefin ite and unsatisfactory.

A month ago it was announced that the Administrator of Western Samoa (Brig.-General Hart) had unex pectedly arrived in Wellington. Mr. G.

E. L. Westbrook, an old and respected resident of Samoa and a Mau Sympa thiser, with an intimate knowledge of Samoan history extending over 40 years, had also arrived in New Zealand; and it was therefore assumed that at least un official conversations would take place in Wellington, with a view to finding a way out of the present impasse.

But nothing happened. General Hart has returned to Samoa. It appears that letters were sent to the Prime Minister on behalf of Mr. Westbrook and Mr.

O. F. Nelson, suggesting a conference of some kind; but the Prime Minister, in pursuance of his considered policy, re fused to see anyone or do anything.

The official attitude of the New Zea land Government is at least consistent.

It insists that there is nothing seri ously wrong in Samoa; that whatever was wrong is being righted; and that, if any awkward situation arises, N.Z will deal with it as circumstances de mand.

If everything goes well in Samoa in the future, New Zealand will be praised for her wisdom and steadiness. If things go wrong, the Forbes Government will be very strongly condemned for its stubborn attitude, conceived in the finest spirit of Tory pigheadedness. The responsibility, or the present, is defin itely on the knees of the high gods.

The next developments, perhaps, will be due when Mr. O. F. Nelson returns to Samoa next month, after the expiry of his five years’ banishment.

Newspaper Comment.

The following appeared on November 3 in “The Observer,” an Auckland weekly newspaper: “All is quiet in Samoa —officially; but there is good reason to believe that below the surface the currents of dis trust and suspicion still flow, and ac cordingly the impending return of the Hon. O. F. Nelson is a matter of grave national moment.

“Last time one of the Samoan exiles returned —when General S. S. Allen was administrator —the annals of New Zea land administration in the Pacific were ineffaceably stained by the legalised slaughter of Tamasese and several other Samoans.

“What will happen when Mr. Nelson returns? The present administrator, in a statesmanlike communique on the sub ject, stated that such contingencies would be dealt with ‘if and when they occur.’ This commits the administra tor to nothing. He is still at liberty to have ball cartridge ready for the festal day.”