THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 1946 New Zealand And Western Samoa

Northern Advocate, 7 December 1946, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 1946 New Zealand And Western Samoa

New Zealand’s association with Western Samoa lias been in the news during the present session of the United Nations Assembly at New York. Yesterday it was reported that Britain, the United States. France and Belgium opposed a proposal by Russia that New Zealand’s draft agreement for Western Samoa should be amended to fix a time limit in which the agreement should be reviewed for the purpose of modification.

Ostensibly opposition was based on the presumption that it might be advisable to review the agreement at any time in order to give the Samoans self-government. The New Zealand delegation went so far as to say that Western Samoans fell themselves ready for self-government, and that the Dominion’s Government might wish to give effect to their wishes earlier than would be stipulated in any time limit. This statement doubtless expresses the mind of the Government, as the Labour Party has been a consistent advocate of the granting of selfgovernment to the Samoans. It is likely, however, that .UNO will recommend the Trusteeship Council to keep agreements constantly under review and. when it deems such action advisable, submit modification proposals to (he administering authority. This is a matter for the future, but . it is interesting jusj, now to recall the history of New Zealand’s relationship with Samoa. Between CO and 70 years ago. the annexation of Samoa by New Zealand was strongly canvassed, and the paramount chief. Malietoa. presented a petition to the New Zealand Government asking that annexation should be effected. Permission was refused by the Imperial Government, and the New Zealand Government of the day. which had made preparations to raise its flag at Apia, had to abandon the project and allow the Samoans to continue the administration of their own affairs. In later years there was strong competition between Britain, the United Stales and Germany for puramountcy in the Pacific archipelago of which Samoa forms part.

In 189-1 New Zealand again proposed that she should control the

group, but finally, in 1899, after tbo powers had been embroiled in native disputes, Britain withdrew and left the United States and Germany to divide the territory between themselves, a decision likely to have unfortunate results. On i'ne outbreak of the First World War in 1914, New Zealand obtained another opportunity to secure bv force of arms what she had been unable to do by diplomacy. Immediately following the declaration of war, the Dominion sent an expeditionary force to Samoa and made a landing at Apia, a feat facilitated by the inexplicable failure cl' a German iieet to offer effective opposition. The Treaty of Versailles offered New Zealand a mandate fer the future government of Western Samoa.

Constitution framed under the Constitution fromed under the Samoa Act of 1921 and amending legislation of 1923. The history of New Zealand’s control of the mandated territory, which included over 8000 acres of land held by Germans, and containing valuable coconut and cocoa plantations, lias bright and dark pages.

New Zealand military authorities came into armed conflict with Samoans on mere than one occasion, and violent controversy has revolved around the earlier administration of the islands, but there is general agreement that New Zealand’s provision of health and other reforms have done a great deal for the wellbeing of the Samoan people, who, in later years, have signified satisfaction with the manner in which the Dominion has carried out the terms of the mandate. Two wars have demonstrated the strategic importance of Samoa so far as the Dominion’s defence is concerned, and already Australia and New Zealand have agreed upon a policy of mutual action which envisages Samoa and other islands in the Pacif-c archipelago as prominent features.

For all these reasons, as well as the fact that New Zealand and Western Samoa have many common links of interest, the decision of the United Nations Assembly is a matter of vital importance to Australia and New Zealand, as well as the wcrld at large.