Late News
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
From Samoa
ON page 6 of this issue there is air article by an American journalist—a trained observer of world affairs —in which the situation in Samoa is neatly summed up, as in mid-July.
Later information is just to hand from Auckland, giving the position on Au gust 14.
It appears that a kind of moral con test is going on still between the Ad ministrator (General Hart) and the Mau leaders, with every promise of the stale mate indicated in Mr. Greene’s article.
The Administrator (who is thought to be acting under direct advice from New Zealand) will not consent to the presence: of Mr. O. F. Nelson (recently returned to Samoa after five years’ exile) at the proposed conference. The Mau, with praiseworthy loyalty, stubbornly to withdraw “Taisi” from its delegation.
Conversations have been proceeding for well over a month. The Administra tor has been very conciliatory in his various meetings with the Mau repre sentatives, and a more friendly atmo sphere has been created than at any time for eight or ten years past. It is likely that, if the two sides can get together in formal conference now, long outstanding differences will be settled.
Mr. Nelson constitutes the chief prob lem. Is he big enough to insist on re maining in the background, leaving the other Mau leaders to meet the Adminis tration in formal conference? It is much. to ask of him; for already he has sacri ficed, in the cause of what he believes: is Samoan freedom, much of his private: fortune and five years of his Samoan citizenship. Yet, if he makes this further sacrifice of personal feeling, he may clear the way to settlement —and win for him self a definite, honourable place in Samoan history.
Rev. W. H. MacFarlane, of the Torres: Strait Mission, who is relinquishing his work in Carpentaria, has been invited by the Bishop to visit New Guinea before proceeding to Sydney. He expects to leave Cairns for Samarai on Septem ber 21.
The secretary of the Australian Board of Missions (the Rev. M. A. Warren) has received an offer of £1,000 to reduce the debt of £4,700 on the New Guinea Mis sion provided ten other persons contri bute £10 each.