Self Government Takes

Samoa Rolls Out The Red Carpet Self Government Takes Another Step Closer

The flag of the United Nations, floating in the soft ocean reezes beside the five-starred emblem of the new nation of /estem Samoa, held pride of place at Government head uarters, on the historic peninsula of Mulinuu (western end f Apia Bay), when the Samoans gave a full-scale, traditional elcome on March 26, to the special Mission of the United rations Trusteeship Council.

the previous day (March 25) he Mission had been welcomed >y the Executive Council and bers of the Assembly at Sata i airport, and had made a acular drive of 20 miles to Apia, igh the chain of decorated al villages, and through crowds heering Samoans. The four bers of the Mission are: Li-thur S. Lall, leader, India’s recre ative at UN; idrew Cohen, KCMG, Britain’s repre ative on Trusteeship Council; (mar Loutfi, representative of United b Republic at UN; acques Kosciusko-Morizet, representa of France on Trusteeship Council. e Mission is accompanied by srs, J. McEwen (Secretary, d Territories Department, New -nd) and Mr. Paul Edmonds nanent representative of New

,nd at UN Headquarters).

irtesies at Mulinuu, on March ere exchanged under the fau, £ trees and coconut palms on ?reen lawns beside the Fono e. aring ula and kiki, the people deata district, after kava, pre d the sua (a rosette-garland od baskets of food) followed by md song, for which the Taupe Miss Tutai Malietoa, daughter le of the Hon. Fautua. The irs‘ male leader, Mr. Jacob ey, wore the tuina (a bearskin leaddress of human hair, with nentation) and carried a cere al knife.

' songs expressed the hope that tpa (the Minister of Agri ur e and the Hon. Fiame mu) would be Samoa’s Prime iter. a, a sister of Matiapa, and one e premier dancers of Samoa, le ta’alolo, a final spectacular ntation of gifts, m twelve talking chiefs, with staffs and fly whisks (their ;ional symbols of office) met in st public argument on the l to decide who would have onour of being the welcoming r. This fell to Vaitagutu, who the Mission to give very

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favourable consideration t(p the subject uppermost in the minds of all Samoans—their desire to govern themselves as an independent State.

"Have Confidence' 7 The Mission s appreciation of the warm and colourful welcome, and of the Samoans' hospitality and entertainment, was expressed by the chairman, Mr. Lall. He asked them to have confidence in the Mission— it was conscious of its responsibility under the UN Charter which, clearly and without ambiguity, set out the goal of self-government and in dependence for the Trust Territories.

The mission had found the same viewpoint among the members of the Government in New Zealand.

The traditions and customs of Samoa would be fully respected in the creation of the new Constitu tion and government.

The Mission, said Mr. Lall, was there to determine what steps were now necessary for the attainment of the objective of the Trusteeship system.

“So the future is in your hands,’’ he said.. “It is a future where, I feel, the Samoan people will give