Cupid Strains

Polynesian

Relations

Prom R. W. Robson, in Apia A Polynesian version of Love’s Young Dream has caused a stir in the Central-South Pacific, which has led to a slight strain in relations between two Polynesian nations, embarrassed some high officials of the United States, and probably given some elements of UNO a chance for grave and serious snarling.

SOME of the mainland newspapers have headlined the incident as a diplomatic sensation. But the incident has so many funny sides to it that I think it should be treated as comedy. I have the assurance of two Prime Ministers concerned that it will NOT lead to war.

It all began six or seven years ago, when Tonga’s Department of Education was so impressed with the natural ability of a Tongan student, Mana Latu, that it provided funds to send him to Victoria College, Wellington, NZ, and maintain him there for training as a teacher of science.

Somewhere in the same period, the Education Department of Western Samoa selected a clever Samoan girl, Netina Galo, for special training as a teacher, and sent her to the same Victoria College, Wellington.

Baby Problem

Naturally, the Samoan girl and the Tongan boy met at the college.

Netina Galo is an attractive lass, and Mana Latu fell in love with her.

Before she completed her training, they were married. Tonga knew nothing of this.

Netina in due course went back to her teaching job in Samoa. Complica tions began when Netina found she was going to have a baby. Mana Latu made a hurried visit to Samoa.

Then Western Samoa and Tonga learned of the alliance, and both nations appeared to be annoyed about it, especially Tonga.

Tonga considered the affair officially, and finally ordered Mana Latu back to Victoria College, to get his B.Sc. degree.

“We expect you to return to Tonga, as originally arranged, and become a science teacher here,” said Premier Prince Tungi.

“Yes,” said the student.

“You will wish to bring your

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Samoan wife and your baby to Tonga?” asked Tungi. The student agreed. The Premier said there would be no difficulty about that.

One supposes that Prince Tungi knew that well-trained Netina Galo (now Netina Mana Latu) would be a valuable addition to Tonga’s teaching staff. One supposes—but one never knows what Tungi is thinking.

Then, one day in November, the Tongan Government learned that Mana Latu had booked passage on a TEAL plane to Pago Pago, en route to West Samoa to join his wife. It also was reported that Western Samoa had promised the young Tongan a good position on the staff of Samoa’s Education Department, for two years, before returning to Tonga.

The idea that Samoa should pinch their expensively-produced science teacher caused perturbation in Tonga.

Prince Tungi always has been noted for swift, unexpected action.

That day, Tonga sent a plea to the United States authorities in Pago Pago.

The Americans were informed that Mana Latu was on a certain plane; that he was a student who had been sent abroad by the Tongan Govern ment, and Tonga was responsible for him; that he had been given no permission to proceed to Western Samoa; that presumably he was without a landing permit, about which Western Samoa today is extremely fussy; and would the Americans therefore please see that, as he could not board the plane to Apia, he be placed aboard the Tongan ship Aoniu, which happened then to be lying in Pago Pago.

The obliging Americans complied, and Mana Latu travelled on the Aoniu to Nukualofa, where he arrived on November 10.

Then a diplomatic furore started.

Mana Latu protested indignantly to the Tongan authorities. His wife, having learned what had happened in Pago Pago, carried her woes to the Samoan Government.

On Monday, November 13, Premier Tungi, of Tonga, received a lengthy radio communication from Premier Mataafa, of West Samoa, recounting the circumstances as he knew them, and firmly requesting an

“explanation”.

Premier Tungi told me Tonga’s side of the story. I gathered that various legal men were a trifle upset —there was talk of “illegal arrest”, “habeas corpus”, and what not.

Tungi was grave, but apparently content. I suspect that the Ministerial mind worked something like this: The Samoans thought they were going

to get two skilled teachers fori price of one. Now Mana Latuj in Tonga—he is for the moon distressed—but he will settle do* and Tonga will gladly pay the 0 of his wife’s transportation to Ton Next, I saw the Americansji Pago. They were aware that lawy in Apia were busy, and talking ahf “wrongful arrest”. They insisted til was no wrongful arrest —they meK helped Tonga to straighten out tangle in travelling arrangements.!

By the time I got to Apia,l Australian and New Zealand ne papers were running headlines o the incident, and demanding nr details. They said that certain U, elements were not going to missL chance of having a crack at USA Premier Mataafa, of Samoai now had reached the cautious] comment” stage. But he did sayi New Zealand, at W. Samoa’s reqq had provided Mana Latu with landing permit.

All the parties at the mon (November 24) are sitting pat. I none seems to be sitting patter!

Premier Tungi—who holds the ; card!