Communist Busy in the Solomons Extraordinary Story

Solomons Extraordinary Story of Native Unrest

ACCORDING to a report received re cently in Sydney, a Communist agi tator has been stirring up the natives in the Solomon Islands; and there is so much unruliness in some places—Malaita especially is mentioned —that experienced men are feeling anxiety.

The agitator is a mystery man. All that is known about him outside the Solomons is that he is an American, that he appears to have gained an extraordi nary influence over the natives, and that he proposes soon to go to America.

He has persuaded the natives that they have been exploited by white men, and he has induced large numbers of natives to give a pledge that they will not work in future for less than £l2 per month.

He has had his most marked success in Malaita, source of much of the best Solo mons labour; but also he has affected the natives in Guadalcanal, St. Christoval and Gela.

He has told the natives that, when he goes to America, he will lay their case before the international authorities, so that they may secure some measure of independence, both political and econo mic.

It is reported that the natives have subscribed not less than £5,000 for this man, to “assist him in fighting for their freedom.”

It appears a fantastic report; but we are assured that the situation is ugly, and that the natives, as a result of the “Dollar Invasion”' of 1942-44, have a large amount of money hidden awav.

EDITORIAL NOTE.—We present the above report for what it is worth. It does not seem credible; yet it reaches us through a channel which demands respect.

Presumably, if there is a Communist agitator at work, he is receiving some attention from the administrative officers of the British Colonial Office. The lat ter, however, do not broadcast their business —what they have to say goes in confidential reports to London.

It must be remembered that Communist agitators, apparently inspired and directed and financed by Moscow, are at work all over the world to-day. Their activities and venom are being directed primarily against the v ßritish—the Americans and the French are being left comparatively alone. The Americans have no colonial empire. The French have a very great colonial empire but France already is partly under Communist domination, so that the good work is being done in Paris itself.

Because of her situation in the world, and the individualist character of her people, Britain is regarded by the Com munists as their chief enemy, and Com munists throughout the world are work ing like furies to embarrass and weaken her.

If anyone doubts this, let him examine one week’s newspapers, and note what is being done to embarrass the British in the Balkans; Syria; Palestine; Egypt; Persia; India; Malaya; Netherlands Indies; Hong Kong. In every one of those places we may discern the hand of the Soviet-inspired Communist. Look at what is happening in Canada and Australia!

With these events in focus, it will not be in the least surprising to find that Communists are at work among the more primitive natives of the Pacific Islands, It would be surprising, however, to find that such fanatics were allowed by British officials to carry on without interference.

French or Australian officials, instructed respectively by Patis and Canberra, might be expected to tolerate the Com munists—but surely not the British.