1939: Samoa

Samoa comprises 14 islands in the southern Pacific between 13° 26' and 14° 22' S. lat. and 168° 10' and 172° 48' W. long. The Islands east of 171° W. long. belong to the United States, and those west of this longitude are mandated to New Zealand.

American Samoa.

American Samoa consists of the islands of Tutuila, Olosega, Tau, Annuu, Ofu, and Rose Island. Swains Island, 210 miles north of Tutuila, is also administered by the United States. Their total area is 76 sq. mi.; and their population in 1938 was estimated at 12,241 inhabitants, almost entirely of Polynesian stock with the exception of 278 Europeans. The principal exports are copra, reed mats, and curios, and the chief imports machinery, petroleum, and manufactured products. Total exports in 1937-38 were valued at $129,850 and total imports at $215,304. The seat of government is the naval base at Pago Pago on Tutuila Island, one of the best harbors in the South Seas. The Islands are administered by a governor, under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. A native advisory council called the Fono assists the governor. American Samoa drew attention in 1939 as a strategic naval base in the United States Pacific defenses.

Western Samoa.

Western Samoa, a mandate of New Zealand, consists of nine islands and coral reefs, four of which are inhabited. The two most important islands are Savaii, having an area of 700 sq. mi., and Upolu, having an area of 430 sq. mi. The total population by the 1936 census was 55,946 persons. The chief products are copra, rubber, cocoa, bananas and coconuts. The Islands are governed by an administrator under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Minister of External Affairs and assisted by a legislature of six members.