FOREWORD To the Members of the House of Representatives Interior and Insular Affairs Committee: Pursuant to the authorization of the full committee in the 83d Congress, a special subcommittee made a trip to American Samoa during November 1954, via Honolulu and Canton Island, to obtain firsthand information on the islanders and the administration of the government for the people of American Samoa. Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall, of Colorado; Mr. Anthony T. Lausi, then Deputy Director and presently Director, Office of Territories, Department of the Interior; and Mr. J. L. Taylor, committee Territories consultant, comprised this subcommittee, and arrived in Honolulu on November 7, 1954, preparatory to departing for American Samoa. Before proceeding to Tutuila, the subcommittee members spent 3 days in Honolulu conferring with Mrs. Elizabeth P. Farrington, Delegate from Hawaii; Gov. Samuel Wilder King and other Territory of Hawaii officials; representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; the directors of the Barstow Foundation, which has educational interests in American Samoa; and numerous individuals representing Samoan communities in Hawaii. From Barbers Point, Oahu, the subcommittee members, accompanied by 17 members of the United States Marine Corps, who were going to their homes on short furloughs, several members of the staff of the Governor of American Samoa, and 2 United States Post Office officials, departed for American Samoa via Canton Island. Following 4 days in American Samoa, the congressional party continued to Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, from whence they began their visit to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. I respectfully submit this report to the full membership of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs for consideration when future legislation for American Samoa is drafted. Sincerely yours, 73588-56-pt. 1——4 WAYNE N. ASPINALL, M. C. 45 FOREWORD To the Members of the House of Representatives Interior and Insular Affairs Committee: Pursuant to the authorization of the full committee in the 83d Congress, a special subcommittee made a trip to American Samoa during November 1954, via Honolulu and Canton Island, to obtain firsthand information on the islanders and the administration of the government for the people of American Samoa. Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall, of Colorado; Mr. Anthony T. Lausi, then Deputy Director and presently Director, Office of Territories, Department of the Interior; and Mr. J. L. Taylor, committee Territories consultant, comprised this subcommittee, and arrived in Honolulu on November 7, 1954, preparatory to departing for American Samoa. Before proceeding to Tutuila, the subcommittee members spent 3 days in Honolulu conferring with Mrs. Elizabeth P. Farrington, Delegate from Hawaii; Gov. Samuel Wilder King and other Territory of Hawaii officials; representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; the directors of the Barstow Foundation, which has educational interests in American Samoa; and numerous individuals representing Samoan communities in Hawaii. From Barbers Point, Oahu, the subcommittee members, accompanied by 17 members of the United States Marine Corps, who were going to their homes on short furloughs, several members of the staff of the Governor of American Samoa, and 2 United States Post Office officials, departed for American Samoa via Canton Island. Following 4 days in American Samoa, the congressional party continued to Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, from whence they began their visit to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. I respectfully submit this report to the full membership of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs for consideration when future legislation for American Samoa is drafted. Sincerely yours, 73588-56-pt. 1 WAYNE N. ASPINALL, M. C. 45 AMERICAN SAMOA I. REPORT ON CANTON ISLAND En route to American Samoa several hours were spent on Canton Island with various officials including Mr. William J. Evans, United States Resident Administrator, Mr. Douglas Freegard, British Resident Administrator, Mr. Richard E. Slater, branch manager, Pan American World Airways, and Mr. Myron Kerner, meteorologist, United States Weather Bureau. Canton Island is a coral atoll located approximately 1,600 nautical miles southwest of Honolulu. (See map, p. 46.) Canton has a population of approximately 315. Its importance is due to its isolated position in the Pacific, to the fact that its lagoon can be used by seaplanes, and that its coral-surfaced runway makes it a desirable way station for Pacific flights. The ownership of Canton Island is obscure. United States claims stem from a reported discovery in 1828 by American settlers and Canton was included in the Guano Island Bond No. 9 of February 8, 1860. British Guano Mining Co. worked the islands during the latter part of the 19th century. The President of the United States on March 3, 1938, issued Executive Order No. 7828 placing both Canton and Enderbury, and an uninhabited neighboring island, under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior. Also the question of title to Canton is not settled between the United States and the United Kingdom, two executive agreements (of 1938 and 1939) having provided for the joint use and control of the islands. Exchange of notes on April 1, 1939 also provided that an airport could be constructed and operated on Canton by an American company or companies which, in return for an agreed fee, must provide facilities for British aircraft and aviation companies equal to those enjoyed by American aircraft and companies. In 1940 Pan-American Airways established a station on Canton and its station manager was designated as the Department of the Interior's representative. Shortly after the Japanese surrender in 1945, the Civil Aeronautics Administration established a headquarters on the island and its senior employee was designated as the "United States Resident Administrator, Canton and Enderbury Islands." The CAA station manager also serves the Justice Department as United States special deputy marshal, the Treasury Department as disbursing agent and the Coast and Geodetic Survey as tide observer. Under British organization Canton and Enderbury are regarded as part of the Phoenix Islands District, which is a part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. The United Kingdom applies to those islands laws enacted in accordance with a Pacific Order in Council of 1893. Canton has no indigenous population. Nearly all of its 315 persons are associated with the various governmental and economic activities on the island. About half the total are American citizens. Three |