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neutral and independent, and Malietoa Laupepa was recognized as King. After his death in 1898 a dispute over the succession to the throne led to the adoption in 1900 of a series of conventions whereby the United States annexed Eastern Samoa and Germany took Western Samoa. The United Kingdom withdrew in return for recognition of its rights in other Pacific Islands.

In 1914, following the outbreak of war in Europe, New Zealand's armed forces occupied Western Samoa, and in 1919 New Zealand was granted a League of Nations mandate over the Territory. By the Samoa Act of 1921 New Zealand made provisions for a civil administration.

Progress was made in education, health, and economic development. Some of the New Zealand Government's measures, however, were unpopular with conservative Samoan opinion. In 1927 a growing body of opposition found an outlet in the Mau movement which embarked on a program of civil disobedience that lingered until 1936.

Steps were taken to make the Samoan administration more effectively representative, but they were interrupted by the Second World War. In December 1946 Western Samoa was placed under a United Nations Trusteeship with New Zealand as administering authority. The Samoans asked

that they be granted self-government, but this was not accepted by the United Nations at the time.

In the period 1947-61 a series of constitutional advances brought Western Samoa from dependent status to self-government and finally independence. Visits by United Nations missions greatly assisted this transition. In 1947 a Legislative Assembly was established in Western Samoa. In March 1953 New Zealand proposed a quickened pace of political and economic development, and Constitutional Convention, representing all sections of the Samoan community, met in 1954 to study proposals for political development. Most of its recommendations were adopted by New Zealand and governed the Territory's evolution toward cabinet government.

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In January 1959, with New Zealand's approval, a Working Committee on Self-Government was established and empowered to work out a draft constitution. Cabinet Government was inaugurated in October 1959, and Fiame Mata'afa F.M. II became the first Prime Minister.

A second Constitutional Convention met in August 1960 and formally adopted the Constitution and other important recommendations. At the request of the United Nations a plebiscite was held in May 1961; by an overwhelming majority the Samoan people voted for independence,

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on the basis of the Constitution, to be effective January 1, 1962. In November 1961 the U.N. General Assembly voted unanimously to end the Trusteeship Agreement, and the New Zealand Parliament passed the Independent State of Western Samoa Act, formally ending New Zealand's powers over the country.

Since January 1, 1962, Western Samoa has become a politically stable, modern independent state.

GOVERNMENT

The Constitution of the Independent State of Western Samoa, adopted in October 1960, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, with modifications to take Samoan customs into account.

The office of Head of State first was held jointly by the representatives of two of the four royal lines. One of these has since died and the office will be held by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, until his death. Future Heads of State will be selected by the Legislative Assembly for 5-year terms. Although the Constitution does not make it mandatory, the Constitutional Convention recommended that they continue to be selected from the holders of the four royal lines.

The Head of State appoints the Prime Minister and, on his advice, the eight remaining members of the Cabinet, who hold office as long as they command the confidence of the Legislative Assembly.

The Legislative Assembly, which with the Head of State constitutes the Western Samoan Parliament, consists of 47 members. Forty-five are elected by matai suffrage on a territorial basis for a 3-year period, and two members, living outside the matai system, are elected by universal adult suffrage. The latter are mainly Europeanized part-Samoans or Europeans with Western Samoan citizenship. The last elections were held on February 25, 1967.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

There are no political parties in Western Samoa, and apart from Samoan tradition few distinct ideologies have emerged to influence political life. Within the Assembly there have been moves by more progressive matai toward universal suffrage, reduction of matai powers, and individual land use, but the matai system itself is a predominantly conservative force. The system provides for continuing change, however; new matai titleholders are being created constantly, and the number of matai has doubled in the 9 years since independence. Most Samoans actively support the matai system, pointing out that while they owe respect and obedience to

their matai in family and communal affairs, the matai in turn have well-defined responsibilities toward their family groups. If these responsibilities are not met, the matai can be removed. The system thus contains the elements of basic democracy.

ECONOMY

Western Samoa is predominantly an agricultural country. The village communities maintain an economy, based on agriculture and fishing, which makes them largely self-sufficient in almost all essential commodities. A large portion of the cultivated land is devoted to subsistence crops such as taro, yams, breadfruit, and pawpaws. Pigs and poultry are the principal livestock. However, more than half the land is too steep or broken for agricultural use.

The forests contain millable timber which is being developed by a U.S. company. There are no known deposits of commercially valuable minerals, and manufacturing industries are presently few in number and small in scope.

Economic development programs concentrate on improving the efficiency of agriculture as a whole, the quality of three main crops (bananas, copra, cocoa), and on diversifying the economic pattern by developing new products.

Western Samoa has had a chronic and growing trade imbalance in recent years. Both the production and value of export commodities have been declining, while the demand for consumer and capital goods has been rising. Exports consist primarily of copra, cocoa, bananas, and other foodstuffs; imports include foodstuffs and most manufactured goods. Exports in 1967 totaled U.S. $4.4 million, while imports were $7.9 million. Western Samoa's major trading partners are New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Per capita income in 1966 was estimated at about $74.

Tourism presently contributes little to the national economy, but the beauty of the islands and the hospitality of the people offer a foundation for a tourist industry as travel in the Pacific increases.

Western Samoa converted from the pound to decimal currency on July 10, 1967. The basic unit is the tala, equal to U.S. $1.40.

The internal transportation system is limited to highways and island-to-island ferries, although internal charter air service is now being developed. There are no railroads in Western Samoa. The principal port is Apia on Upolu; however, with the completion of work to permit large ships to use Asau on Savai'i, it is anticipated that that harbor will be used particularly for timber exports. The airport at Apia receives international flights from American Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. Negotiations are underway with the Asian Development Bank to enable Apia to handle jet aircraft.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

The Government of Western Samoa maintains a cordial attitude toward most countries and has especially close relationships with its Pacific Islands neighbors and New Zealand. A Treaty of Friendship, signed by the Governments of Western Samoa and New Zealand in August 1962, confirms their special relationship and provides a formal basis for the assistance which New Zealand extends to Samoa.

In accordance with this treaty, New Zealand acts as the channel of communications with governments and international organizations outside the immediate area of the Pacific Islands. Because of the costs involved, Western Samoa has not yet established any diplomatic or consular missions abroad, and there are none in Apia except the New Zealand High Commission. In 1969, however, Western Samoa accredited an honorary consul to Los Angeles. There is close cooperation with the Government of American Samoa.

Western Samoa is not a party to any defense agreements, and it has chosen not to seek membership in the United Nations at this time. It is, however, receiving help from U.N. agencies in planning and promoting economic and social development and has joined the World Health Organization (WHO), the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE), the South Pacific Commission, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

U.S. POLICY

The U.S. Government maintains a friendly interest in Western Samoa's development. It has supplied some small hurricane assistance, and a Peace Corps contingent is engaged in the fields of education and public health.

PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Head of State-His Highness Malietoa TANUMAFILI II

Prime Minister, Minister for External and Internal Affairs (including local government), and Labor-Fiame MATA'AFA

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLICATION 8345

Revised November 1969

APPENDIX T

DISPUTED ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC

[Reprinted from: Territorial Areas Administered by the United States. Washington, Department of the Interior, 1968.]

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