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IV

In regard to the attitude of the London Missionary Society towards the Samoans in their contemporary troubles, I must mention that at the Fourteenth Session of the Permanent Mandates Commission, General Richardson, in reply to a question from Lord Lugard, said:

"He would emphasize the point that the missions in Samoa had rendered most valuable services to the natives. It had been the Government's policy to work in close co-operation with the missions and he personally had always had very friendly relations with them. When the troubles first arose he had taken up the question with the missions, but they had preferred to leave the matter alone, as it was one of political importance, and had declined to take sides. Unfortunately, the missions of the London Missionary Society had suffered, largely, Sir George Richardson thought, as a result of their inactivity concerning the Mau movement. One member of the London Missionary Society, however, had made a frank public statement and had drawn attention to the harm done by the Citizens' Committee. His speech had been translated by the Citizens' Committee and circulated to the natives as evidence that the missions were now infected with the Government's point of view. The adherents of the London Missionary Society included about two-thirds of the native population, and the position had become so serious that the Society had had to close down some of its schools and institutions…."

So serious indeed did the position become, that the London Missionary Society was obliged to send out a delegation from London in an endeavour to stabilize the concern; resulting in the removal of the local head of the London Mission, who then proceeded to New Zealand and indulged in pulpit propaganda against the Mau.