Fono Discusses Self

Government

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Apr. 25

rE Fono of Faipule (the Samoan Par liament) met in Apia on April 10, but prematurely ended the session on April 19, because of the prevailing in fluenza epidemic.

Samoan self-government was the most important issue discussed and although no reply was received from the Trusteeship Council with regard to the Samoan petition up to the end of the session, the decision of the Council to send an inves tigating commission to the Territory in June was received a few days after the Fono had dispersed.

It would appear now, that the attitude of the Samoans in regard to self-gov ernment is by no means unanimous and a large and growing section seems opposed to radical and immediate changes.

This “moderate” section seems to be of the opinion that a slow and gradual ap proach is the best thing and that it will need long and specialised training to equip the Samoan people for responsible political and technical positions.

Opposed to the moderates is a larger section of radical nationalists who con tend that the establishment of self-gov ernment is possible in the near future and that all difficulties and obstacles can be surmounted.

There is also the problem of the 5 000 Euronesians who must be considered along with any proposals for self-government.

In the manner of their participation in self-rule, the Samoans are again divided.

The Fono also discussed whether the limited number of Chinese now permitted to remain in the Territory should be per mitted to legalise their marriages with Samoan women. It has been decided to permit this on condition that the offspring of such marriages be considered Samoans and not, as frequently in the past, as of European status. It will be interesting to know whether this decision will be made retrospective as only a few years ago, by some sleight of hand, about 900 Samoan-Chinese were permitted to regis ter as Chinese nationals.