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The TRUTH about SAMOA

Absolute Denial of Charges

Absolute Denial of Charges.

General Richardson: That is all the questions I have to ask.

Mr. Slipper: When we spoke of the Mau to-day, Mr. Nelson, is that the same sort of thing that it was nine months ago; is it the same size or is it bigger?—I think it is bigger.

Since the Minister's visit, has there not been a distinct cleavage between the White and Native Committee?—Yes: the Mau have disregarded the exhortations of the Citizens' Committee, as they were given to the people at the last meeting we had With the Samoans.

Do you remember speaking to the Natives at a meeting at the conclusion of the sittings of the Royal Commission?—Yes; I spoke to the Samoans then, and I told them that the sittings of the Royal Commission being concluded, there was nothing for us to do but to wait for the decision. We as the Citizens' Committee now had to go right back to where we were after the visit of the Minister. We were ordered to cease activities with them, which we did, except with regard to collecting money to pay expenses. They were told that when the decision arrived, it would be in respect to matters regarding the Minister's visit and before, in which we were collectively interested; but all things after the order of the Minister we were not responsible for, and therefore we have now to refrain from further activities.

Air. Slipper: It was said at that meeting that the two parties would separate, but when the result came through and it was in English, the White Committee would report to the Natives?—Yes.

As a matter of fact it was after this report came through that this meeting of the Native Committee was in prospect and that caused your letter of the 13th December?

—Yes.

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The letter was written because your counsel decided that it was improper even to meet the Committee to report?—We thought that it was better to consult counsel, as we feared that it would not tend to put ourselves right. We adopted the course we did and wrote to them instead of meeting them.

At that meeting at Lepea you told them to go home. Did any other people in the White Committee speak?—I think you will find it in the notes-I am not too sure

What was the general reply-would they or would they not go home?—The people of A'ana by what I was told said that they would go home that night, and the Savai'i people would go home as soon as they could. Those who had native boats went home. Those who did not have boats of their own had to. wait and take their chances in the motor boats; and I, myself, went to the expense of diverting one or two of our own ships from the places they might have gone to, so as to send them to Savai'i and enable the people to get away.

With reference to instructions coming from the Central Committee to the people telling them not to obey the laws-have those instructions, before they have been issued, ever been referred to you or the European Committee in any way?—Never in any one instance.

Apparently they knew that it was of no use?—Yes, because they were contrary to our own instructions to them.

In regard to exhorting them to keep the peace-perhaps you can give His Excellency an example of this morning?—This morning, while waiting at Mr. Baxter's office for news or information from him regarding his meeting with His Excellency, a number of Samoans came in. They were excited and asked what was the trouble. I told them that there was no trouble. They stated that they did not want us to appear before His Excellency. I pleaded with them and begged them and appealed to them in the Samoan way in tears, that if they did not wish to obey me or be guided by me in any way, to do this one thing for me, and that was to ask their people to disperse and not cause any demonstration or bring about the least suspicion of one. This I begged them to do for me personally, because I felt and I told them that a demonstration of that nature would only excite the people and probably lead to trouble, they very last thing in the world that I would like to see, and the very thing that I have fought against. I have used every influence on my part where such was possible to preserve peace and not to excite the people.