TRAVEL IN SAMOA

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 25

TRAVEL IN SAMOA

Restrictions Attacked

The policy of continually making it harder for Western Samoans to visit American Samoa constitutes an added hardship to Persians already suffering from the division of their families, says an editorial article in the “Samoa Times,” published in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

The article comments on new regulations by the Government of American Samoa on visits by Western Samoans.

“This question touches a basic aspect of relations between the two Samoas,” it says.

“First, a passport was required. Now the visitors must have a prepaid return ticket. Next on the schedule is said to be a 750dbllar bond. If implemented, this demand could bar all but a tiny minority of Western Samoans from visiting. “Advocates of these restrictions say it is necessary to keep undesirable persons from Western Samoa from establishing themselves on Tutuilla. We agree, but is it necessary to treat all Western Samoans as potential undesirables?

“Which is worse, the problem posed to the Government of American Samoa by an occasional deportation, or the insult and inconvenience to thousands of Western Samoans represented by increased travel restrictions? “Is it worth while to poison relations between the two Samoas for the dubious benefits of this lazy man’s way of keping out undesirables? We say no,” says the article.