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2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

4. US Naval Administration of American Sāmoa

Author : Line-Noue Memea Kruse

Published in: The Pacific Insular Case of American Sāmoa

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

In 1900, President McKinley issued Presidential Executive Order No. 125-A, which delegated control of the American Sāmoan Islands to the Secretary of the Navy. Kruse examines the succession of Tutuila Naval Station Commandants who exercised full authority and powers over the Naval fleet as well as the civil administrators who governed American Sāmoa. Focusing on the Navy’s power over government and adjudication of introduced western law, particularly principles of adverse land possession that required corroboration of testimony, Kruse details how this perfectly supports the discourse of empire building. The chapter examines adverse land possession principles as the building blocks of nationalistic empire building, cloaked as an instrument to civilize and standardize Sāmoan society. Kruse reveals how the Navy favored the individual’s right to title, corroding communal lands available for Sāmoan communal usage that threatens the faˊamātai system.

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Footnotes
1
Brian A. Garner, Black’s Law Dictionary (St. Paul: West Group, 1996), 22; Sue Farran and Don Paterson, South Pacific Property Law (London: Cavendish Publishing, 2004), 166–167; ASCA § 37.0120 (1982); Magalei v. Atualevao, 19 ASR 2d 86 (1991); Willis v. Faiivae, 17 ASR 2d 38 (1990); Salavea v. Ilaoa, 2 ASR 15 (1986); Tuiolosega, v. Voa, 2 ASR 138 (1941); Sei v. Aumavae, 2 ASR 396 (1948); Soliai v. Lagafua, 2 ASR 436 (1949); Sione v. Tiualii, 3 ASR 66 (1963); Ofoia v. Pritchard, 4 ASR 326 (1963); Fau v. Wilson, 4 A.S.R. 443 (1964); Lolo v. Heirs of Sekio, 4 ASR 477 (1964); Lualemana v. Atualevao, 16 ASR 2d 34 (1990).
 
2
Waitangi Treaty is named after the Treaty House on Waitangi Bay, Bay of Islands in (Northern) New Zealand, where the Treaty was signed affording Māoris with protections to their indigenous lands. What is also noteworthy about this Treaty is the symbolism attached to the intent or meaning of this document. Waitangi means ‘weeping waters’ in the Māori language.
 
3
In Willis v. Faiivae, 17 SASR 2d 38 (1990), it reads, “The court is bound by statute and treaty to recognize freehold grants made by the Land Commission of Sāmoa, which operated in Apia under the supervision of the then-Supreme Court of Sāmoa, prior to the United States-established government.” ASCA. § 37.0201(b) (1999) and Vaiao v. Craddick, 14 ASR 2d 108 (1990), freehold land is all those lands included in court grants prior to 1900.
 
4
Mulu v. Taliutafa, 3 ASR 82 (1953), at the time of cession of Sāmoa to United States, public property passed to United States Government and not Government of Sāmoa.
 
5
Taatiatia v. Misi, 2 ASR 46 (1948); Muli v. Ofoia, 2 ASR 408, 410 (1948); Soliai v. Lagafua, 2 ASR 436 (1949); Fa’atiliga v. Fano, 2 ASR 376 (1948); Gi v. Te’o, 3 ASR 570 (1961); Magalei v. Lualemaga 4 ASR 242 (1962); Government v. Letuli, No. 016-63 (1963); Haleck v. Tuia, LT No. 1386-74 (1974); Fanene v. Talio, LT No. 64–77 (1977).
 
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Metadata
Title
US Naval Administration of American Sāmoa
Author
Line-Noue Memea Kruse
Copyright Year
2018
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69971-4_4