Samoa Seeks Autonomy In Petition To United Nations

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1947, Page 5

Samoa Seeks Autonomy In Petition To United Nations

Re<*d. 7 p.m. New York, March 10 The “New York Times’’ prints mi the front page an art ide on I lie Samoan petition Io the I nileil Nations which says that. Samoa’s request is expected to be one of the leading items on the agenda when the Trusteeship Council meets on March 26. “The intelligence and friendliness of the Samoan natives,” stales the article, “is graphieiiily reflected in a coni])],-lint which ieI'errcd Io tin* democrati<* j rm i-iples of the Atlantic Charier, ar/d I he rights of small nations.” Tile correspondent adds “Ihe fact that New Zealand is appar-

cut 1 ;’ pushing the appeal marks I what seems to be an innovation in ' intv. national relations. ” Lake Success, March 8. I Autonomy for Western Samoa is I .’-ought in a petition signed by 46 SaI moan chiefs and members of the Leg- ! islative Council, received by the United Nations through the New Zealand Government, which administers the territory under the United Nations h u.iloe.ship agreement. Sir Carl Berendsen, New Zealand delegate to the General Assembly, told the trusteeship committee when il wa s examining the trusteeship agreement for the territory in November that the people of Western Samoa wanted sell-government rather than trusteeship. This fact is referred to in a letter, accompanying the petition, from the Prime Minister of New

Zealand (Mr. l-’ra-er), who also a.*-i;ed that the New Zealand Government be informed of the methods envisaged for examination ot the petition. The petition contains on e new feature—il asks that an end be put to the “artificial division of tlie Samoan Islands established in the past without consent of the Samoans.” Thiy raises a complex issue, because Eastern Samoa is at present held under a mandate by the United States, which so far lias not submitted a uusi.esliip proposal covering the territory. The petitioners point out that they greatly value tlie manner in which New Zealand lias carried out its mandate and recognises (lie benefits the New Zealand administration has brought. They also ask that New Zealand continue to act as “protectee and adviser” to Samoa after selfgovernment has been achieied.