[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 6054-6055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE 114TH AMERICAN SAMOA FLAG DAY

  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Governor Lolo Moliga and the people of American Samoa, for next week we 
will be celebrating 114 years for the commemoration of the raising of 
the American flag on April 17, 1900.
  Madam Speaker, it was at this historic occasion when our Samoan 
traditional leaders had the foresight to sign the Treaty of Cession 
with the representatives of the United States. Our bond and relation as 
part of the ``American family'' today is stronger than ever.
  As we celebrate this year, we must reflect on the sacrifices that 
were made by our sons and daughters, past and present, who served 
honorably and valiantly in our Nation's military forces. Our Samoan 
sons and daughters have been an important part of our military forces, 
both here and throughout the world.
  (English translation of the statement made in Samoan is as follows.)
  May the relationship between the United States and the islands of 
Tutuila and Manu'a continue to prosper. Farewell.
  IIa sao ma uli le alo faiva le faigamalo a Tutuila ma Manua ma le 
Malo Tele o Amerika. Soifua.

                           Treaty of Cession

                            Chief of Tutuila

                                   to

                        United States Government

                             April 17, 1900

       Translation in the English language:
       To all to whom these presents shall come: Greeting.
       Whereas the Governments of Germany, Great Britain, and of 
     the United States of America have on divers occasions 
     recognized the sovereignty of the government and people of 
     Samoa and the Samoan group of islands as an independent 
     State; and whereas owing to dissensions, internal 
     disturbances and civil war, the said governments have deemed 
     it necessary to assume the control of the legislation and 
     administration of said state of Samoa; and whereas the said 
     governments have on the sixteenth day of February, by mutual 
     agreement, determined to partition said State; and whereas 
     the islands hereinafter described being part of the said 
     State have by said arrangements amongst the said governments, 
     been severed from the parent State, and the Governments of 
     Great Britain and of Germany have withdrawn all rights 
     hitherto acquired, claimed or possessed by both or either of 
     them by treaty or otherwise, to the said islands in favor of 
     the government of the United States of America;
       And whereas for the promotion of the peace and welfare of 
     the people of said islands, for the establishment of a good 
     and sound government, and for the preservation of the rights 
     and property of the inhabitants of said islands, the Chiefs, 
     rulers and people thereof are desirous of granting unto the 
     said government of the United States full powers and 
     authority to enact proper legislation for and to control the 
     said islands, and are further desirous or removing all 
     disabilities that may be existing in connection therewith and 
     to ratini and to confirm the grant of the rule of said 
     islands heretofore granted on the 2nd day of April, 1990.
       Now know Ye.-
       1. That we, the Chiefs whose names are hereunder subscribed 
     by virtue of our office as the hereditaty representatives of 
     the people of said islands, in consideration of the premises 
     hereinbefore recited and for divers good considerations us 
     hereunto moving, have ceded, transferred, and yielded up unto 
     Commander B.F. Tilley of the US. ``Abarenda,'' the duly 
     accredited representative of the Government of the United 
     States of America, in the islands hereinafter mentioned or 
     described for and on behalf of the said government. All these 
     the islands of Tutuila and Aunu'u and all other islands, 
     rocks, reefs, foreshores and waters lying between the 13th 
     degree and the 15th degree of south latitude and between the 
     171st degree and 167th degree of west longitude from the 
     meridian of Greenwich, together with all sovereign rights 
     thereunto belonging and possessed by us, to hold the said 
     ceded territory unto the Government of the United States of 
     America; to erect the same into a separate District to be 
     annexed to the said Government, to be known and designated as 
     the District of ``Tutuila''.
       2. The Government of the United States of America shall 
     respect and protect the individual rights of all people 
     dwelling in Tutuila to their lands and other property in said 
     district; but if the said Government shall require any land 
     or any other thing for

[[Page 6055]]

     Government uses, the government may take the same upon 
     payment of a fair consideration for the land, or other thing, 
     to those whom may be deprived of their property on account of 
     the desire of the Government.
       3. The Chiefs of the towns will be entitled to retain their 
     individual control of the separate towns, if that control is 
     in accordance with the laws of the United States of America 
     concerning Tutuila, and if not obstructive to the peace of 
     the people and the advancement of civilization of the people, 
     subject also to the supervision and instruction of the said 
     Government. But the enactment of legislation and the general 
     control shall remain firm with the United States of America.
       4. An investigation and settlement of all claims to title 
     to lands in the different divisions or districts of Tutuila 
     shall be made by the Government.
       5. We, whose names are subscribed below, do hereby declare 
     with truth for ourselves, our heirs and representatives by 
     Samoan Custom, that we will obey and owe allegiance to the 
     Government of the United States of America. In witness 
     whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our 
     seals on this 17th day of April, 1900 A.D.
       Fofo and Aitulagi
       Tuitele of Leone, Faiivae of Leone, Letuli of Iiiiii, 
     Fuimaono of Aoloau, Satele of Vailoa, Leoso of Leone, Olo of 
     Leone, Namoa of Aitulagi, Malota of Aitulagi, Tuana'itau of 
     Pava'ia'i, Lualemaga of Aasu, Amituana'i of Ituau.
       Sua and Vatfanua
       Pele, Mauga, Leiato, Faumuina, Masaniai, Tupuola, Soliai, 
     Mauga.
       The foregoing instrument of Cession (pages 1, 2 and 3) was 
     duly signed by Leoso in the presence of, and at the request 
     of, the Chiefs and Representatives of the Division of Fofo 
     and Aitulagi, and by Pele in the presence of, and at the 
     request of, the Chiefs and Representatives of Sua and 
     Vaifanua in Tutuila in conformity with Samoan customs as to 
     signatures to documents, in my presence at Pago Pago on the 
     17th day of April, 1900 A.D. immediately prior to the Raising 
     of the United States Flag at the United States Naval Station, 
     Tutuila.
       /s/E.W. Gurr
       Barrister of the Supreme Court of Samoa.
       Acceptance of Cessions
       The Judge Advocate General of the Navy in 1921, referring 
     to the above cessions, said: ``These cessions were accepted 
     by the President of the United States, and full information 
     with respect thereto was communicated to Congress and the 
     action of the Chief Executive relative thereto adopted and 
     approved in a number of separate statutory enactments.'' 
     (File 3931-1429.36, Dec. 23, 1921, LRNA, Supp. 25.

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