IV

Early in April the second cruiser returned from Samoa, having left a party of Marines, and the New Zealand Government announced the decision to recruit a military police force for despatch to the islands.

The following week General Richardson departed, driving along a back road to Mulinuu, where there were but few to see him off. During that week 2,000 Mau police demonstrated in an uncompromising manner in Apia. On his return to New Zealand, General Richardson said that the Royal Commission which inquired into the causes of the unrest in Western Samoa failed to end the trouble because the chief conspirators led the natives to believe that they possessed great power and could reverse the Commission's decisions. He stated also that there had never been any desire on the part of the natives to change the flag which flew over Samoa. He was sorry that there had been any suggestion of this, and declared that it was merely a "story invented by conspirators on Apia beach, who button-page 239holed tourists and gave them dope." Where and when the suggestion referred to had been made, I am unable to determine.