Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Samoa at Geneva : misleading the League of Nations : a commentary on the proceedings of the Permanent Mandates Commission at its thirteenth session held at Geneva in June, 1928

Passive Resistance

Passive Resistance.

But the Minister had by then ranged himself with the Administrator, who was determined to concede no point whatever. More banishments followed. The Citizens' Committee were hard put to it to hold the peace among the Samoans. Fortunately, some good work had been done in this line, and the Samoans adopted the policy of submission to all punishments, but to preserve the peace.

When the Minister (Mr. Nosworthy) arrived, he ordered the European members to cease their activities with the Samoans, but to undo the harm page 15 they had done. They do not admit having done any harm and, even if they did, it was not possible for them to undo anything if they ceased activities. To undo their work would be to break the peace. They therefore withdrew their guidance of the Samoans.

The latter then resolved on a policy of passive resistance. The Mau grew to enormous proportions. It now includes almost every man and woman in the Territory. They are convinced of the justice of their cause, and nothing will shake them. The Mandates Commission have given their decision, but they offer no solution of the trouble. They have vindicated the New Zealand Administration of Samoa, but they have not helped it in bringing about a settlement. It has been said that "you cannot indict a whole nation," but this evidently does not apply to Samoa.

Sir George Richardson, referring to the election of Native representatives to the Legislative Council, stated before the Mandates Commission (page 19):—

"There was told a story in Samoa to-day about that very popular Governor. Dr. Solf. Dr. Solf went to an institution of the Missionary Society and offered a trophy to be given to the best student. There were about 120 students, and he said: 'I will leave it to you to elect the best student; you will carry out your own elections.' The election was held, and when the voting papers were taken out of the box there were 120 names on them."

Sir George is not well informed if he does not know that the balloting system has been used at missionary meetings in Samoa for many years past when a question of moment is being decided on. I have not heard of any hitch in the working of this system. It is called in the Samoan language "palota," derived from the English word "ballot." Further on, he stated: "The Faipules at the present time did not want representation on the Council." This is probably true, after the "idea" had been taken out of their heads. But the New Zealand Parliament made provision for this in 1923, and the Samoans, including the Faipules, have asked for it.

The Minutes (page 7) state:

"Sir George Richardson said that there had been absolutely no open dissatisfaction in Samoa, either on the part of the white population or of the Natives, up to the time of the holding of the combined meeting of Europeans and Natives in October, 1926. . . ."