When American Samoa Wasn't

By Edward W. Johnson, in Pago Pago

The United States possessions of Tutuiia, Manu’a, Rose and Swains have been called American Samoa now for 46 years. But the old days when nobody knew just what to call them are still remembered by some—and those were the days of real confusion.

In 1904, shortly after Manu’a joined Tutuiia, under US protection, the commandant of the US Naval Station at Tutuiia, Commander E. B. Under wood. recommended that the title of this Pacific station be changed to (1) American Samoa, (2) Eastern Samoa, or (3) Tutuiia and Manu’a.

The Navy Department made no decision, and for almost eight years, various titles were used, none too satisfactory. For instance, succeeding Governors were called “Governor of Tutuiia’’, with Manu’a left out. When new Governor and commandant C. B. T. Moore checked the legality of this omission he was in formed by the Secretary of the Navy in June, 1905, that his commission not only made him governor of the island of Tutuiia, but gave him jurisdiction over all possessions of the US in Samoa.

In 1911 the Monthly Navy List and Directory used “Naval Governor of Samoa”. An Executive Order of February, 1911, relating to civil service rules, used these words, “And the island of Samoa”, presumably referring to Tutuiia and Manu’a. A Department of the Interior map of the US showed Tutuiia and Manu’a as, “Tutuiia group of the Samoan Islands”. , Germany at this time presided over Western Samoa and called her part of the group “Samoa”. Even in 1926 the postage stamps for the ex -0 ®””*? territory bore the title “Samoa”. Governor W. M. Crose, Commander, then presented this situation to Washington on May 15, 1911, recommending either “American Samoa” or “Eastern Samoa”. The US President issued ni™ a new commission as “Governor of American Samoa”, dated October 24, 19 Thus “American Samoa” became the official title of all the Samoan Islands under the jurisdiction of the United States.