Apia’S Protest To

Eastern Samoa

B.P. Vessel Held Up At Pago Pago

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, Sept. 20.

AN interesting incident which has assumed almost international impor tance has occurred in our sister colony, Eastern Samoa, which is under American naval jurisdiction.

An Indian tailor, Bukumbulla, after having worked for several years in Tonga, intended to return with his savings to his homeland. He chose a route from Tonga via Western Samoa, Pago Pago (Eastern Samoa) and thence by Matson liner to Fiji to connect with a steamer direct for India. Arriving in Apia, he had his British passport vised for India, via Syd ney. He left by Burns Philp’s motor ves sel Makoa for Pago Pago, where he was allowed to stay for a month to complete some financial transactions.

In order to connect with a direct boat for India he applied to the Matson Line agent at Pago Pago for a passage to Suva. The passage, however, was re fused to him, as his passport was vised for India via Sydney. Thereupon the American authorities informed the cap tain of the Makoa that the Indian would be deported by that vessel to Apia. The captain refused to take him; and the Americans then stated that the B.P. boat would not be allowed to leave without the man.

Messrs. Burns Philp’s branch at Pago Pago now got into touch with Apia. The Apia Administration decided to allow the Indian, who had a considerable amount of money in his possession, to return to Apia and wait there for further develop ments.

The affair delayed the Makoa, which carried the European and American mail, a full day, thereby causing considerable inconvenience to Western Samoa resi dents. With tact and commonsense this undoubtedly could have been avoided; the American authorities had opportunity to communicate with the Apia Adminis tration regarding the matter. Apparently the cause of the trouble was the pass port vise being made out for Sydney in

stead of for Suva, but this could have been rectified by the Apia police agreeing to a corresponding alteration.

The local authorities, as well as Messrs.

Burns Philp, have lodged a protest to the American Naval Administration at Pago Pago and further developments are ex pected. Relations of the local Adminis tration with the American Naval Ad ministration in Eastern Samoa have been traditionally excellent and it would be

regrettable if the cordial feeling between Apia and Pago Pago should suffer in consequence of the unconsidered action of an official.

H.M.A.S. Canberra arrived in Port Moresby on September 12. She left Papua four days later, having curtailed her visit to rejoin the Australian Fleet at Darwin, Northern Australia.