U.N. Recommends Western Samoa Plebiscite In May

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29388, 15 December 1960, Page 3

U.N. Recommends Western Samoa Plebiscite In May

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NEW YORK, December 13. The United Nations General Assembly’s Trusteeship Committee today adopted by 59 votes to none a 10-Power draft resolution recommending that a plebiscite be held in Western Samoa next May. There were 11 abstentions. The resolution recommended that a plebiscite be held in the New Zealand trust territory to “ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of the territory concerning their future.” The resolution also recommended that the following two questions be asked: Do you agree with the constitution adopted by the Constitutional Convention on October 28, 1960? Do you agree that on January 1, 1962. Western Samoa should become an independent State on the basis of that constitution? The resolution also would have the plebiscite conducted “on the basis of universal suffrage with all adult citizens of Western being entitled to vote.” It would have a United Nations plebiscite commissioner appointed to represent the General Assembly, together with observers and staff to be appointed by the SecretaryGeneral (Mr Dag Hammarskjold). Members of the Soviet bloc, led by the Soviet Union, attacked New Zealand over the “so-called

Treaty of Friendship,” which Mr I. .Kuchava (Soviet Union) claimed could reduce Western Samoan sovereignty and set up a “protectorate regime.” But Western Samoa’s Prime Minister (Fiame Mata’afa Faomuina Mulinu’u) told them that their fears were “groundless.” In voting on the draft resolution, the committee rejected by 31 votes to 26 with 12 abstentions a Byelo-Russian amendment which would have deleted from the resolution a phrase which would have the Assembly take note of the resolutions adopted by the Constitutional Convention of Western Samoa. These resolutions—made to the Western Samoan legislature—included one on the proposed Treaty of Friendship. Some delegates. including those of the Soviet bloc, said that mentioning this in the resolution would be tantamount to tacit consent by the United Nations.