Many Europeans Decline Citizenship

Plans For New Samoan Nation

Many Europeans Decline Citizenship At This Stage

Because they still refused to renounce their old nationality and seek Samoan citizenship, and swear an oath of allegiance to the new State of Western Samoa, the majority of persons in Western Samoa who were expected to vote as Europeans were not on the Constitutional Con vention rolls when the rolls closed on July 23.

IT was expected that there would be 1,400 or 1,500 names on the European roll—it closed with only about 500.

The great majority of the people classified as European are of mixed blood—part European, part Samoan —and they are proud of their Euro pean status and the nationality they have claimed since birth—mostly British, American or German. They are not prepared to surrender this status for citizenship in a State not yet in being—for various formal ities have yet to be completed before W. Samoa moves from UN Trustee ship, in the care of New Zealand, to complete independence.

After much changing around of procedure, it finally was decided that the delegates to the Consti tutional Convention, to commence on August 16, should be on the fol lowing basis; Euro peans Samoans Ex-officio Members of Legislative As sembly 5 41 Elected or nomin ated by persons on special rolls, on July 23 ... 5 123 Total of Com munity reps. .. 10 164 Of the 41 Samoan electorates which are to elect 123 members (3

each) only twelve nominated more than the three candidates required —in four electorates five candidates were nominated, and in eight there were four candidates. In these 12 electorates, elections per secret ballot were held on July 23. The candidates were all matais (heads of families) on the matai roll, and only matais were qualified to vote.

It had been intended to elect 10 Europeans per the special roll; but as only five candidates were nom mated, and only 500 enrolled as electors, the five were declared elected, and there was no election.

The Fautua, Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa Tanumafili 11, will be joint Chairmen of the Constitutional Convention of 174 members, when it assembles on August 16.

It is believed that the Conven tion will sit for about 2i months, to consider the Draft of the new, Constitution. The Draft is a voluminous document.

The Legislative Assembly began a short session on July 26, to dis pose of a large number of new ordinances before the Convention started work on August 16.

The date for election of the new Legislative Assembly has so far not been fixed—probably October or No vember.

The European members of the As sembly who are automatically members of the Convention are: Messrs E. F. Paul. F. C. F. Nelson,, G. F. Betham, P. Plowman andl H. C. Keil.

The five additional European rep resentatives declared elected to the: Convention are: Messrs, W. F.

Betham, O, R. Crichton, A. M..

Gurau, H. E. Hunkin and P. L. M..

Morgan.