ABSTRACT
Because men of European descent are involved in Cargo movements, events such as those which have been described in the Prologue belong to a complex far greater than might be implied simply by ‘Tangu’ or ‘Manam island’. In both localities the situation is to a large extent determined by political and economic decisions taken in Port Moresby, the administrative capital of Australian New Guinea, which itself looks for directives from Canberra. In turn, Canberra must react to what is happening at Lake Success or in other world capitals. The decisions taken inevitably guide or limit to a greater or lesser degree the activities of individuals—especially of Europeans—in Tangu or Manam island. The Europeans responsible for executing the policies thought out in faraway capitals are at the bottom of a long chain of delegated responsibility. They have little say in forming the policies they are expected to implement, and the New Guinea situation itself not only imposes restraints of its own, but it often provides individuals with considerable scope for personal initiative. Nevertheless, if Europeans are forced to put themselves into an equation balancing general directives against particular circumstances the native peoples concerned have little choice but to try to manipulate the situation as they find it. That is, there exists a basic situation of conflict. And its principal elements may be appreciated through a short historical survey.
