H. Res. 443

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

May 23, 2000.

Whereas the people of American Samoa have inhabited

Tutuila and the Manu’a Islands for at least 3,000 years

and developed a unique and autonomous seafaring and

agrarian culture, governing themselves through their own

form of government;

Whereas in 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen became

the first European to sight—but not land on—the shores

of the Samoan Islands, islands which remained isolated

for another 46 years because Roggeveen miscalculated

their location;

Whereas in 1768, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the second European to sight the Samoan islands,

became so impressed with the sailing skills of the natives

he named the islands ‘‘L’Archipel des Navigateurs,’’ and

for generations thereafter the entire Samoan island group

was known to the Western World as the ‘‘Navigator Islands’’;

Whereas in 1787, Frenchman Jean Francois La Perouse

landed on the shores of these islands and thus began the

‘‘opening’’ of Samoa to the West, with American whalers

as the principal group to engage the people of Samoa in

trade and commerce, followed from 1830 on by English

missionaries;
2

•HRES 443 EH

Whereas in 1839, as part of a congressionally authorized trip

to the Pacific, United States Navy commander Charles

Wilkes visited the island of Tutuila and later reported favorably in support of establishing a structured relationship between the island and the United States;

Whereas on March 2, 1872, Richard Meade, commander of

the U.S.S. Narragansett, visited Pago Pago, and, on his

own responsibility, made an agreement with High Chief

Mauga entitled ‘‘Commercial Regulations, etc.,’’ which

was submitted to, but never ratified by, the Senate;

Whereas on February 13, 1878, a ‘‘treaty of friendship and

commerce with the people of Samoa’’ was proclaimed

ratified;

Whereas on June 14, 1889, a treaty known as the General

Act of 1889, between the United States, Germany, and

Great Britain, and assented to by the Samoan Government, ‘‘to provide for the security of the life, property

and trade of the citizens and subjects of their respective

Governments residing in, or having commercial relations

with the Islands of Samoa,’’ was concluded and later ratified;

Whereas on December 2, 1899, a tripartite treaty between

the United States, Germany, and Great Britain, which

provided for the division of the several islands of Samoa,

was signed by the three parties in Washington, D.C.;

Whereas on April 17, 1900, by treaty of cession, the traditional chiefs of the South Pacific Islands of Tutuila and

Aunu’u agreed to become a part of the United States in

return for protection of their land and culture, and the

United States flag was raised on what is now known as

the United States Territory of American Samoa;
3

•HRES 443 EH

Whereas on July 14, 1904, by treaty of cession, His Majesty

the King of Manu’a and his traditional chiefs from the

Islands of Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega, agreed to become part

of the United States in return for the protection of their

land and culture;

Whereas since that time, the residents of American Samoa

have been proud of their affiliation with this great Nation

and have demonstrated their loyalty and patriotism in

countless ways;

Whereas April 17 is known as Flag Day in American Samoa

and is the biggest holiday in the territory, and is celebrated not only in American Samoa, but throughout the

United States wherever there is a sizable Samoan community;

Whereas American Samoans in Hawaii, California, Nevada,

Utah, Alaska, Washington, and other parts of the United

States pause each year on this important date to celebrate this monumental occasion in American Samoa’s

history;

Whereas the per capita rate of enlistment in the Armed

Forces among American Samoans is among the highest

in the United States, with hundreds of American

Samoans enlisting annually;

Whereas for decades American Samoa served as a Naval coaling station for United States ships in the Pacific, providing the Nation with what is commonly referred to as

the best deep-water harbor in the entire Pacific—a harbor where American ships are protected from severe and

sudden tropical storms by natural, high, sloping mountains—a harbor which, in the Nation’s youth, served as

a critical and crucial refueling and replenishing port for
4

•HRES 443 EH

military and commercial interests, enabling the United

States to pursue its foreign and commercial policies,

logistically unrestrained, throughout the Asian Pacific region;

Whereas during World War II, American Samoa was the

staging point for 30,000 United States Marines involved

in the Pacific theater, with American Samoans serving

both as hosts and as fellow soldiers to these Marines via

the revered Fita Fita Guard;

Whereas American Samoa was the first land astronauts from

numerous Apollo missions came to upon returning to

Earth—including astronauts from Apollo 10, Apollo 12,

Apollo 13, Apollo 14, and Apollo 17;

Whereas American Samoa produces more National Football

League players per capita than any other State or territory of the United States, with approximately 15

Samoans currently playing professionally;

Whereas April 17, 2000, will mark the 100th anniversary of

American Samoa joining in political, military, and economic union with the United States;

Whereas local government leaders in American Samoa have

been preparing for this centennial celebration for the last

3 years; and

Whereas although 100 years have elapsed since the formation

of this mutually beneficial relationship, American

Samoans today—as did their forebears in 1900—remain

deeply thankful and appreciative of the benefits they have

received and continue to receive as a result of the unique

relationship American Samoa shares with this great Republic, and they are proud that in return for the benefits

received under this relationship, they actively contribute
5

•HRES 443 EH

economically, militarily, and culturally to the health and

well-being of this great Nation: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the historical significance of the centennial of the raising of the American flag over the

United States Territory of American Samoa;

(2) acknowledges 100 years of American Samoa’s

loyalty and service to the United States; and

(3) reaffirms its commitment to the United States

citizens and nationals of American Samoa for improved

self-governance, economic development, and the expansion of domestic commerce, consistent with the desires of

the people of American Samoa.

Attest:

Clerk.