Evening star., 1948-11-21
Unrest in MeIonesiu

The troublouS aftermath Of World
War II takes many and diverse forms
in different parts Of the globe. But no
where does 1t assume stranger forms than
in that portion of the South Pacific col
lectively known as Melanesia. This extern
sive region, embracing the Solomon Islands
and other archipelagos adjacent to the
vast island-continent Of New Guinea, is
anthropologists have given the term Mel
anesians, meaning black folk, to distin-
guish them from the fairer- skinned Poly
nesians Of the Central Pacific island groups
stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand.
The Melanesians are extremely prini-
tive. Formerly fierce cannibals, their
warlike propensities and addiction to "long
pig" have been cured by the devoted activ-
tiles of Christian missionaries and the
restraining hand Of British or Australian
officials who enforce modicum of law
through benevolent colonial administra-
ton. The rudiments of our civilization
had thus been implanted in Melanesia,
but before World War II economic de-
velopment was confined to a few coconut
plantations planted sparsely by adventur-
Gus white pioneers and casual barter with
the natives from trading schooners.
Then, suddenly, these primitive lands
became the arena of tremendous con-
hict. Large armies equipped with every
conceivable gadget Of our mechanized
civilization battled for years before the
astounded eyes of the native inhabitants,
many Of whom were employed as labor
auxiliaries and learned at first hand Of
our machines, our foods and our ways Of
life. All these things, at first deemed
miraculous, presently became understand
able and desirable in native eyes. Then
the armies passed, the war was over and
quiet descended upon Melanesia once more.
Yet the renewed quiet was only super
fetal. For the war had changed the Mel
anesians themselves. Contact with our
civilization had filled these black folk with
longings to enjoy its fruits. They wanted
jeeps to ride about in, iceboxes to outfit
their palm leaf huts and canned goods
and biscuits to supplement their CUSTOM
ary diet of yams, bananas and razor
back pork. In their untutored minds,
wishful thinking soon produced wish
fulhllment myths. Hence, the rise Of the
Cargo Cult" From New Guinea to the
solomons there spread rumor, quickly
crystallizing into fixed belief, that huge
convoy of ships was coming from the outer
world, laden to the gunwales with all the
things they so ardently desired. This went
so far that many chiefs ordered the build
ing of wharves and warehouses along the
shore to store the expected goods prior to
distribution among their followers.
In vain did the missionaries and the
colonial officials try to disabuse the ma
tives OF their delusion. Such explanations
produced merely irritation turning to re-
sentiment. The growing unrest gave rise
to rebellious self-assertiveness, notably the
Marching Rule" movement in the Solo
mons. A widespread organization banded
the natives into sort Of primitive union
and demanded dizzy pay increases for work
on the plantations. Otherwise no planters
missionaries, doctors or even onicials
would be allowed longer to remain.
This was going bit too far, and the
colonial administration took vigorous
action. British warships toured the islands
to show the flag" Loyal native constables
bunded up the chief agitators Pr trials
tyefore district magistrates whoy imposed
stiff sentences at hard labor. The March
| Ing Rule" movement was squelched. Order
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