What did Samoa's

Tamasese mean by "suspicion" ?

From FELISE VA’A in Apia Western Samoa’s recent dele gation to the Commonwealth Conference of Prime Ministers did not return with any “laurels of victory”. But it did not go there to fight for any principles,

although Tupua Tamasese did

denounce the violation of Samoa’s territorial waters by Oriental fishermen based in nearby American Samoa.

Tamasese had good reason to de plore the actions of Oriental fisher men, for recently fishing projects began in the villages to make Western Samoa self-sufficient in fish. Already there is enough trouble trying to catch the fish.

Some people here felt Western Samoa should not have refrained from commenting on world affairs such as the arms sale to South Africa, at the conference. It is the duty of every country to show where it stands on any issue.

When the delegation returned, members of the Western Samoan Cabinet, top government officials and the New Zealand High Commis sioner, Mr. R. B. Taylor, turned out to welcome them.

There were smiles all round as the Prime Minister alighted from the air craft and greeted the Acting Prime Minister, Polataivao Fosi, who had done a splendid job during Tama sese’s absence.

Tamasese, in Apia, called for a joint “summit” meeting of Islands leaders. He said he had suggested such a meeting in Singapore, but “no firm decision was made”. He added, rather surprisingly, that perhaps by holding such a meeting “we can arrive at a point of mutual trust by remov ing the suspicion that seems to exist in our relationships”.

This remark led to some puzzle ment as to what Tamasese was getting at. Political roundsman of The Fiji Times, Matt Wilson, suggested it might have something to do with Paci fic leadership. Western Samoa, first independent Pacific nation, saw itself as political pioneer, and there might be some friction with up-and-coming Fiji’s new “leadership” in Pacific affairs, he said.