The New Samoa And

Mr. Nelson

Lend.' to the Editor. 1 GATHER from correspondents in Samoa that the N. Z. Labour Govern ment has acted in such a manner as to end all differences between the natives and the Mandatory Administration, and to restore complete harmony.

This is a very worthy achievement, and I think no one is more gratified at it than I am. As you know, I have participated somewhat actively in this controversy at various times, and always in the endea vour to aid in bringing about a reconcilia tion of the Samoans with the Mandatory, to the advantage of the native people.

That their cause has deserved whatever effort I or anyone could make on their behalf is evident enough in the very

nature of the “regulations” the New Zealand Government now seems to have rescinded; that is to say, the preposterous decree against the free movements of the islanders in their own land, and the edict of illegality in respect of the Mau.

I hope that there will now be an en during peace. No one man can do more to assure that than Mr. O. F. Nelson, whose influence among the Samoans sur passes anything of the sort I have ever seen in the South Seas.

A number of silly people have had con siderable to say and to write concerning what they have called the “Greene-Nelson feud,” and of that I think it proper to say a word.

I opposed Nelson in a certain amount of press propaganda, and in other ways, and I urged both Hart and Forbes to de port him because I thought his attitude was widening the breach between the Samoans and the Mandatory. I still think it was; but I fully believe that since those whom he regarded as his enemies are out of the picture he will co-operate with the present New Zealand Government to pre serve harmony in the islands.

That being the case, neither I nor any one can have any objection to Nelson being back in his native island where, if he behaves himself, he has every right to be, His influence is a vital factor there, and, being the man of keen intelligence that he is, he can be a very useful friend to New Zealand and help to make the Mandatory Administration the success that it has never yet been. Had the Lake Leman Old Ladies’ Knitting Bee investi gated the Samoan position as they should have done long ago, the results now achieved might then have been reached and Samoa been the happy, contented and prosperous place it ought to have been for these past ten years.

I am, etc.,

Marc T. Greene.

Stratford, England, September 1, 1936.