Stratford Evening Post FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1930. AMERICAN SAMOA.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 68, 17 October 1930, Page 4

Stratford Evening Post FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1930. AMERICAN SAMOA.

THE adults anions' the ( J,U()U native population of American Samoa are anxiously awaitinjj the investigation by the Congressional Commission appointed last year on the island's demand for civil government. Last year these Samoans submitted "to Washington a petition for citizenship, and brought about the annexation of Eastern Samoa as a Territory of the United States of America, but without any provision for a civil government ■ or the removal of the stigma of autocratic rule by transitory naval commandants. The Samoans' inherent tradition of government through leadership and inborn hostility towards compulsion are causes of the mental gap between them and the naval Government at Tutuila. According to Samoan custom, there must be a chief in every village and a high chief chosen by each five villages by virtue of some special service or Qualification. Each chief, or high chief, has a talking chief, who serves as an adviser and spokesman. Fonos, or councils of chiefs, are dignified and ceremonious assemblages at which matters, great_and small, are discussed quietly and thoroughly before a decision is announced. To judge without debate stamps a decision with taboo. A recent Governor of American Samoa, commenting upon the form of government, said: "Under the difficulties attending the supplanting of such a tribal form of government as existed formerly in these islands bv a government meeting the requirements of Western civilisation, it' would be very hard to see how better results could have been obtained. No extensive argument is necessary to convince a student of Samoan affairs that the Governor, under navy rule, is clothed with too much discretionary power. He may change every law" in the codification, even that which establishes the firm of (Tovernment. . The

Governor exercises the sole legislative and executive power. Tins combination of legislative and executive functions, unffuided and unrestricted .by a constitutional instrument, presents an unusual system of government.