An Acrimonious
p. 41 · Read in the full issue
Exchange
Mau Leader and American Journalist.
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, Nov. 3.
A bitter controversy has raged in the columns of the local newspaper be tween the well known American journalist, Mr. Marc. Greene, who has just left Samoa after a few months’ stay, and Mr. O. F. Nelson, the well known Mau leader.
Mr. Greene, when commenting on the Samoan problem, in the “San Francisco Chronicle,” largely blamed Mr. Nel son, the “self-assumed half-caste leader of the Mau,” for the failure of recent negotiations between the Ad ministration and the Mau.
Mr. Nelson replied, charging Mr.
Greene with venom, as the result of the refusal of a 200 dollars loan by Nelson to Greene, when they met in Auckland.
This latter statement Mr. Greene flatly denied, maintaining that he had offered Mr. Nelson some gilt-edged securities for 200 dollars. He said also that he had upheld his present views regarding Mr. Nelson and the Mau for at least three years past.
Meantime, the Mau seems to have settled down again to slumber, after its recent attempt to put a bit more “pep” into the movement. Probably the
present economic depression among the Samoans has something to do with the relapse, as the natives now have things other than politics to worry about.