16

27. An intelligent observer connected with the New Zealand Government had reason to remark : " The petition to the United Nations, the meetings among both Samoans and Europeans, to work out the details of the case of self-government, the appointment of the Commission by the Trusteeship Council, have given the movement its own momentum ; even the leaders could not stop it now, if they would ; they can merely clarify and modify the form of their demands." D. WHAT DOES THE CONCEPT OF " SELF-GOVERNMENT " MEAN TO SAMOANS? 28. It is clear that the Samoan people want to control their own destinies rather than be under alien rule. Spokesmen repeatedly said that " freedom is our birthright and heritage given by God." " What we want," one said, "is that the Samoans should control our own Government, and run it according to our will." The Mission met with a complex though consistent state of mind, which combines many ideas, images, and sentiments. To the mass of Samoans the concept of self-government has little definiteness as yet, beyond a strong conviction and feeling generated by the dynamic factors to which reference has already been made. Questioning by the Mission showed that the ordinary people not only are willing to leave the sharper formulation of what self-government means to their high level leaders, but also expect this to be the task of such leaders. 29. By contrast, the leaders have been articulate. They cited the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Atlantic Charter as relating to their aspirations. In response to a request made by the Mission to the Samoan representatives for a more detailed plan ol self-government, the Mission was given on 25 July, 1947, a statement of the Samoan five-point plan (Annex VII), which in abbreviated form is as follows : (1) Head of State : The three Fautua. (2) Parliament or Legislative Body: The forty-one Faipule, together with three or four Europeans. Heads of Departments to be present, but to have no right to vote. (3) Role of New Zealand: The representative of New Zealand would protect the interests of foreigners. He would have a limited right of veto, subject to appeal to the United Nations. (4) Advisory Committees for questions of health, education, public works, finance, and agriculture. A Samoan Public Service Commission or Board should be created with full power to select local people for Government positions on their merits. (5) The return to the Government of Western Samoa of the lands of the New Zealand Reparations Estates.