Friendship

N.Z., Western Samoa Sign Treaty Of Friendship

Western Samoa’s Prime Minis ter, Fiame Mataafa, and New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Western Samoa, Mr. J. B.

Wright, signed a Treaty of

Friendship between their two countries on August 1. The sign ing of the Treaty followed the

granting of independence to

Western Samoa on January 1 after more than 47 years of NZ administration.

Representatives of Australia, Nauru and the United States attended the ceremony, which was held at Vailima, first the home of Robert Louis Stevenson, then of NZ administrators, and now used by the Western Samoan Government for official functions. Western Samoans were granted a public holiday to celebrate the occasion.

The Treaty, in both English and Samoan, contains a preamble setting out the circumstances which led to the drawing up of the Treaty. This is followed by seven articles defining agreed areas of co-operation and expressing the spirit of the friendly relations between the two countries.

The Treaty provides that; • NZ will increase its technical, administrative and other assistance designed to help Samoa achieve its objectives in social and economic development. • NZ will help the Western Samoan Government to conduct its

international relations “for as long as the Government of Western Samoa wishes and in such manner as will in no way impair the right of the Government of Western Samoa to formulate its own foreign policies”. • When requested, NZ will act as the diplomatic channel for com munications with other Governments and international organisations and as Samoa’s representative at certain conferences; and that it will supply information on international affairs and undertake diplomatic protection and consular functions on behalf of Western Samoan nationals overseas. • The two countries will consult together on matters of mutual interest and concern; and will ensure that citizens of one country living in the other will be given equitable treatment, full legal protection and access to the courts.

The Treaty does not provide for any change in the nature of NZ aid, but it places on record the intention of the NZ Government to continue its assistance.

Commenting on the signing of the Treaty, the weekly Samoa Bulletin said: “New Zealand has for many years stretched a helping hand to Samoa and Samoans. Our young people flock there and are welcome and happy. Should we not then think of her as a sister country and stand shoulder to shoulder with her in times of stress should they come?

“Recently we published the votes passed by New Zealand Parliament

On a table draped with the Western Samoan and New Zealand flags, the Treaty of Friendship is signed by New Zealand High Commissioner Mr. J. B.

Wright and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II.Assisting Mataafa is his private secretary, Mr. E.

Stehlin.

Photo: Samoana.

totalling £167,250 for aid to Samoa in 1962-63. Those figures did not take into account the fact that New Zealand has been meeting the full costs of the Apia Observatory, in cluding those for the year 1961 and 1962. For this year, estimated expenditure for the meteorological programme is estimated at £6,300 and for the geophysical programme at £5,500.

“In addition, New Zealand pro vided about £lB,OOO in 1961 and £9,000 in 1962 towards the opera tion of the Civil Aviation services at the Faleolo Airport.

“The figures quoted are those that can be identified. However, a num ber of services are performed by the New Zealand authorities without cost or at reduced cost to Western Samoa, e.g., in recruiting of can didates for the Western Samoa Public Service; in stores purchasing and in overseas representation.

“Last week a representative of United Press International visited Western Samoa. He had visited most of the countries which had achieved independence in recent years and had received huge grants for aid, but nowhere had he seen such wonderful work as New Zealand had done in Western Samoa, and all without world-wide publicity and fanfare of trumpets.”

The weekly Samoana commented: “In retrospect Samoa has been most fortunate in its emergence into independence. The smooth transition and evidence of goodwill towards the former administrator, New Zealand, and this final signing of the Treaty is a compliment to the basic goodwill that underlay New Zealand’s attitude and policy towards this country over her 47 years of mandate and trustee ship”.