INDEPENDENCE OF SAMOA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 9

INDEPENDENCE OF SAMOA

Hints Of Move By Russia NEW YORK, July 3 Western sources were today unable to confirm a report that the Soviet Union would make a plea for independence for the trust territory when the general debate on Western Samoa started One informant remarked that it was the usual Soviet line to try to make out that conditions in the trust territories could be bettered.

In his opinion it was unlikely that the Soviet representative would make an “all-out”, plea for independence because “if it came to a vote they would not get very far.” So far as tomorrow’s meeting was concerned, sources close to the council said they expected only the initial statement to be made by the New Zealand representative. He would probably be Sir Leslie Munro, president of the last General Assembly. Sir Leslie Munro was expected to introduce three Samoan chieftains to the council.

The sources said that the questioning of the special representative of the territory might not begin tomorrow. The genera] debate follows the questioning. Comment By Mr Nash (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 3. “Constitutional development in the trust territory of Western Samoa is at present proceeding in accordance with a programme drawn up by the New Zealand Government with the full agreement of the Samoan Government and people and endorsed by the trusteeship council,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Nash, tonight “The political objective of the Western Samoan people is selfgovernment. with special relationship between Western Samoa and New Zealand still maintained “New Zealand has advised the council that constitutional progress in Western Samoa has advanced so far that within the next few years the appropriate organs of the United Nations will be asked to give consideration to the termination of the trusteeship agreement for the territory,” said Mr Nash.

“While the presence of three delegates nominated by the Samoan Government gives the current session of the Trusteeship Council an opoortunity of hearing the Samoan point of view New Zealand has also suggested that the council should next year send to Western Samoa a special mission which could make a first hand exhaustive study.