Question of American Samoa

  The General Assembly, Having considered the question of American Samoa, Having examined the relevant chapters of the report of the SpecialCommittee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of theDeclaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries andPeoples, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing theDeclaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,and all other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating toAmerican Samoa, Taking into account the statement of the administering Power relating todevelopments in American Samoa, Conscious of the need to promote progress towards the full implementationof the Declaration in respect of American Samoa, Noting with appreciation the continued active participation of theadministering Power in the work of the Special Committee in regard to AmericanSamoa, thereby enabling it to conduct a more informed and meaningfulexamination of the situation in the Territory, with a view to accelerating theprocess of decolonization for the purpose of the full implementation of theDeclaration, Considering that it remains the obligation of the administering Power tocarry out a thorough programme of political education so as to ensure that thepeople of American Samoa are made fully aware of their inalienable right toself-determination and independence in accordance with General Assemblyresolution 1514 (XV), Noting with interest that the Office of Economic Development and Planningof the Government of American Samoa is now implementing a five-year economicdevelopment plan, focusing on economic diversification, land use, housing,banking and tourism, for the benefit of the people of the Territory, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location andeconomic conditions of American Samoa and stressing the necessity ofdiversifying the economy of the Territory as a matter of priority in order toreduce its dependence on fluctuating economic activities, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective meansof ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and expressing itssatisfaction at the willingness of the administering Power to receive visitingmissions in the Territories under its administration, Welcoming the fact that American Samoa was the host for the 1982 SouthPacific Conference of the South Pacific Commission,

1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on theSituation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Grantingof Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to AmericanSamoa;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of American Samoa toself-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on theGranting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained inGeneral Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Reiterates the view that such factors as territorial size,geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources shouldin no way delay the speedy implementation of the Declaration contained inGeneral Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which fully applies to American Samoa;

4. Calls upon the Government of the United States of America, as theadministering Power, to take all necessary steps, taking into account thefreely expressed wishes of the people of American Samoa, to expedite theprocess of decolonization of the Territory in accordance with the relevantprovisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration;

5. Reaffirms that it is the responsibility of the administering Powerto ensure that the people of American Samoa are kept fully informed of theirinalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance withGeneral Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

6. Recommends that, in accordance with the wishes of the people ofAmerican Samoa, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices should be appointedby the Governor and approved by the Legislature, a procedure now facilitatedby the growing number of American Samoans who are qualified lawyers, and thatthe recommendation of the second temporary Political Status Commission for achange in the judicial system should be acted upon;

7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power, under theCharter, for the economic and social development of the Territory;

8. Calls upon the administering Power, in co-operation with theterritorial Government and within the framework of the five-year economicdevelopment plan, to continue to help to strengthen and diversify the economyof the Territory in order to achieve self-sufficiency;

9. Urges the administering Power to continue to facilitate closerelations and co-operation between the people of the Territory and theneighbouring island communities and the regional institutions in order toenhance further their economic welfare;

10. Urges the administering Power, in co-operation with the freelyelected representatives of American Samoa, to safeguard the inalienable rightof the people of the Territory to the enjoyment of their natural resources bytaking effective measures to ensure their right to own and dispose of thoseresources and to establish and maintain control of their future development;

11. Considers that the possibility of sending a further visiting missionto American Samoa at an appropriate time should be kept under review;

12. Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of thisquestion at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a furthervisiting mission to American Samoa at an appropriate time and in consultationwith the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly atits thirty-eighth session.