Un Mission

Samoans Are Cool And Courteous To

From Our Own Correspond Ent.

rjTHE long-expected visit of a UN JL Trusteeship Council Mission to Western Samoa took place early in May, just six weeks after the New Zealand Government had made known its proposed policy for far reaching changes in the political, social and economic structure of the Trust Territory.

The Mission consisted of the chairman, Mr. Enrique de Marchena (Dominican Republic) and Messrs.

Najmuddin Rifai (Syria), Leon Pignon (France) and W. A. C.

Mathieson (UK), with Mr. H. A.

Wieschoff (USA) as chief secretary.

It visited NZ before going to W.

Samoa, and met responsible Min isters.

In Samoa it spent 12 days. An official Kava ceremony was held, followed by the usual speeches. Dr. de Marchena expressed the hope that at future debates on Western Samoa a representative of the territory would be present at UN headquarters.

An impressive Ta’alolo was given to the visiting Mission at Mulinu’u, by three Upolu villages. Samoan sivas, songs and speeches were fol lowed by presentations of food and artifacts to the Mission. There were many meetings with members of the Council of State, the Executive Council, the Legislative Assembly and the Fono of Faipule.

When the Hon. Tamasese ad dressed the Mission he pointed out that the people had had no time to consider the far-reaching sug gestions and recommendations of the NZ Development Plan for

Western Samoa and that, in accord ance with traditional Samoan courtesy, it therefore would be im proper and discourteous to discuss the details with the visiting Mission.

After due consideration, they would communicate their decisions to the NZ Government and the Trusteeship Council.

The Hon. Tamasese suggested that the Mission might help the Territory in creating a “United Nations Library” in the interests of education of Samoan adults and children. He pointed out that any future self-government must be formed in accordance with Samoan tradition and not just based on European ideas. The Samoans, he said, believed their political ideas were truly democratic.

The Hon. Tualaulelei addressed the mission on the control of the Samoan public service, and the Hon.

A. M. Gurau brought up the ques tion of the abolition of the Prefer ential Tariff in favour of British Empire imports into Samoa.

The Mission visited the Poutasi and Sa’anapu districts on the south coast of Upolo and various districts on Savai’i.

The Mission received submissions from public bodies and persons who wanted to present their views.

Among others, the Mission gave audience to a delegation from the “Democratic Party,” which sub mitted some political opinions divergent from the views of the majority of Samoan leaders.

There was a noticeable absence of special social functions for the visiting Mission, though the Mission participated in several parties given to farewell the Hon. and Mrs.

Tamasese on their departure for the Coronation. The Mission left by special plane on May 8 for New York, via Suva, and Honolulu.