Covers Western Samoa's independence on 1 January 1962, the Treaty of Friendship signed with New Zealand that August, and UN admission on 15 December 1976. It does not cover the League of Nations mandate and UN Trusteeship administration in detail.
Western Samoa had been administered by New Zealand from 1920, first under a League of Nations Mandate and from 1946 under a UN Trusteeship Agreement.[1] Following a May 1961 UN-requested plebiscite favouring independence and a November 1961 General Assembly vote to end the trusteeship, the Independent State of Western Samoa Act formally ended New Zealand's powers over the country on 1 January 1962, making it the first Pacific island state to gain independence.[1] On 1 August 1962 the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship under which New Zealand would, when requested, act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication with other governments and international organisations, without impairing Samoa's own foreign-policy independence.[2] Western Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976, following a unanimous Security Council recommendation.[3][4]
Status verified as of
Samoa has been an independent, UN-member state since 1976 (independence achieved in 1962).[4]
History
From New Zealand's trusteeship administration, through the 1961 plebiscite, to independence in 1962 and UN admission in 1976.
123 words · 1 min read
· Declaration
Western Samoa became independent from New Zealand on 1 January 1962 under the Independent State of Western Samoa Act, 1961, following a UN-requested plebiscite and a UN General Assembly vote to end the trusteeship, becoming the first Pacific island state to gain independence.
Significance here: The end of New Zealand administration and the first Pacific island independence, concluding a League of Nations mandate and UN Trusteeship Agreement.
· Agreement
Signed 1 August 1962, the Treaty of Friendship provided that New Zealand would, when requested, act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication with other governments and international organisations, without impairing Samoa's right to formulate its own foreign policy.
Significance here: The framework governing Samoa's early external relations, under which New Zealand could represent Samoa internationally at Samoa's request.
· Recognition
The Security Council recommended Western Samoa's admission to the United Nations on 1 December 1976, and the General Assembly admitted it on 15 December 1976, nearly fifteen years after independence.
Significance here: Formal international recognition of Samoan statehood, delayed well beyond independence itself.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: Western Samoa had been administered by New Zealand from 1920, first under a League of Nations Mandate and from 1946 under a UN Trusteeship Agreement charging New Zealand with promoting "the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants and their progressive development towards self-government or independence." At the request of the United Nations, a plebiscite was held in May 1961 in which an overwhelming majority of Samoans voted for independence; in November 1961 the General Assembly voted unanimously to end the trusteeship, and the New Zealand Parliament passed the Independent State of Western Samoa Act, formally ending New Zealand's powers on 1 January 1962, accompanied by a Treaty of Friendship guaranteeing New Zealand assistance in foreign affairs and defence.
Claim: The Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Western Samoa, signed 1 August 1962, provided that New Zealand would help Samoa conduct its international relations "in such a manner as will in no way impair the right of the Government of Western Samoa to formulate its own foreign policies," and that, when requested, New Zealand would act as Samoa's diplomatic channel of communication with other governments and international organisations and as its representative at certain conferences.
Claim: On 1 December 1976, at its 1977th meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of Western Samoa, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that it be admitted to UN membership.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 100th plenary meeting on 15 December 1976, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Western Samoa's application, decided to admit the Independent State of Western Samoa to United Nations membership.