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 Bougain-
ville, 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 Is-
lands’’;
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;
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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 fa-
vorably in support of establishing a structured relation-
ship 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 Govern-
ment, ‘‘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 rati-
fied;
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 tradi-
tional 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;
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military and commercial interests, enabling the United
States to pursue its foreign and commercial policies,
logistically unrestrained, throughout the Asian Pacific re-
gion;
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 terri-
tory 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 eco-
nomic 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 Re-
public, and they are proud that in return for the benefits
received under this relationship, they actively contribute
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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 cen-
tennial 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 expan-
sion of domestic commerce, consistent with the desires of
the people of American Samoa.
Attest:
Clerk.