Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 29 December 1928, page 13


SAMOAN TROUBLE.

ARREST OF HIGH CHIEF.

INTEREST IN MAU WANING.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

APIA (Samoa), December 11.—Following

on the arrest on November 27 of Tamasese, the Samoan high chief and spokesman of the native organisation known as the Mau, the Administrator (Colonel Allen) is doing everything possible to create a spirit of reconciliation. The Mau committee, how-ever, refuses to meet him and discuss the situation. Tamasese, who is aged 20 years, is the grandson of King Tamasese. Before the arrival in Samoa of the New Zealand cruisers in February he took no active or public part in the Mau movement. He was

more or less forced into prominence by his

native name and title. It must now be clear to Samoans that real force, with arms if necessary, can and will be used to enforce arrests. Previously they had the idea that armed forces wouId not be used against

them.

The arrest of Tamasese took place at the village of Vaimoso, on a warrant for con-tempt of court in relation to non-payment of taxes. An armed party of 35 military police arrived at the village at daybreak. Vaimoso is about a mile from Apia, and for the last year has been recognised as the headquarters of the Mau. Two motor-lorries and a motor-van were used to carry the police to the village. When Tamasese saw the police he rushed to a plantation near by. The police gave chase and over-hauled Tamasese, who showed fight, but was overcome, thrown to the ground, and

handcuffed. When taken back to his house a few stones were thrown and two of the military police were struck. Generally, however, no resistance was made by the villagers. It had been persistently ru-moured that resistance would be made if the police attempted to arrest anyone in the village, and in view of what happened at the previous attempts to arrest Tama-sese the police were justified in taking pre-cautions.

Next day Tamasese appeared before Chief Judge Woodward to answer a charge of contempt of court. He was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for six weeks. At the High Court, Apia, Tamasese appeared before the Chief Judge on a charge of having resisted the police. He was convicted and sentenced to imprison-ment for six months, and is now at Vaimea prison. It was stated in the evidence that two Lewis machine guns were in a position for immediate action. One of the guns was pointed towards Tamasese's house. The military party had fixed bayonets, but the officer in charge did not know who gave the order to fix bayouets. The Samoans, it was further stated, obeyed the order of their chief to keep the peace.

It will be remembered that on March 9, while the New Zealand cruisers were at Apia, a party of civil police attempted to arrest Tamasese at Apia, but were pre-vented by crowds of Mau supporters, who obstructed the police and managed to get him away in a car. On the same day, at Vaimoso village, another attempt was made

by a party of civil police at his home. On

that occasion the police were covered by a party of 30 men from the cruisers. Resist-ance was again made, and the police and

the naval party, to avoid bloodshed, re-

tired. A further attempt to make an ar- rest was made at the home of Tamasese at Vaimoso on November 13. The party of six military police was stoned by women and others, and it retired.

The committee of the Mau continues to make its headquarters at Apia, and weekly meetings are held. Delegates are sent throughout the territory to keep interest alive, and, incidentally, collect what they term the Mau tax. Members of the Mau are encouraged to travel to Apia. They appear to be certain that Mr. O. F. Nelson, who has been deported for five years, will

return. In the meantime normal affairs of the country and courts function, with the exception of the payment of taxes by mem-bers of the Mau. The courts deal with them in the usual way, and warrants of ar-

rest are issued for default. Local interest in the Mau is waning. It is beginning to be realised that no good can come of such a hopeless situation. Two of the Samoan chiefs of the original committee, Amasaga and Ainuu, have publicly withdrawn from

the Mau.