Question of the future of Western Samoa

XV. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
1569. Question of the future of Western Samoa

The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Trusteeship Council on the Trust Territory of Western Samoa under New Zealand administration,[1] as well as the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to the Trust Territory of Western Samoa, 1959,[2] Having taken note of the Constitution adopted by the Constitutional Convention of Western Samoa on 28 October 1960 and the resolutions adopted by that Convention,[3] Noting the statements made in the Fourth Committee by the representative of the Administering Authority and by the Prime Minister of Western Samoa,[4]

1. Recommends that the Administering Authority, in pursuance of Article 76 b of the Charter of the United Nations, take steps, in consultation with a United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner, to organize, under the supervision of the United Nations, a plebiscite in Western Samoa under New Zealand administration, in order to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of the Territory concerning their future;

2. Recommends further that the plebiscite should take place in the month of May 1961 and that the questions to be asked should be:

"1. Do you agree with the Constitution adopted by the Constitutional Convention on 28 October 1960?

"2. Do you agree that on 1 January 1962 Western Samoa should become an independent State on the basis of that Constitution?";

3. Recommends further that the plebiscite should be conducted on the basis of universal Suffrage with all adult citizens of Western Samoa being entitled to vote;

4. Decides to appoint a United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner for Western Samoa who shall exercise, on behalf of the General Assembly, all the necessary powers and functions of supervision, and who shall be assisted by observers and staff to be appointed by the Secretary-General in consultation with him;

5. Requests the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner to submit to the Trusteeship Council a report on the organization, conduct and result of the plebiscite;

6. Requests the Trusteeship Council to transmit to the General Assembly, for consideration at its sixteenth session, the report of the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner, together with any recommendations and observations it considers necessary.

954th plenary meeting,
18 December 1960. At its 954th plenary meeting, on 18 December 1960, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Fourth Committee,[5] appointed Mr. Najmuddine Rifai (United Arab Republic) United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner for Western Samoa.

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[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifteenth Session, Supplement No. 4 (A/4404), part II, chapter V. [2] Official Records of the Trusteeship Council, Trusteeship Session, Supplement No. 2 (T/1483), document T/1449, [3] Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifteenth Session, Annexes, agenda item 44, documents A/C.4/454 and Add.1. [4] Ibid., Fifteenth Session, Fourth Committee, 1081st meeting. [5] Ibid., Fifteenth Session, Annexes, agenda item 44, document A/4663, para. 10.