Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Pacific Islands Treaty Series

Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Western Samoa concerning the program of the Peace Corps in Western Samoa, Wellington [1970] PITSE 1 (1 October 1970)

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN SAMOA CONCERNING THE PROGRAM OF THE PEACE CORPS IN WESTERN SAMOA

(Wellington, 1 October 1970)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 OCTOBER 1970

The American Ambassador to the Prime Minister of Western Samoa

AMERICAN EMBASSY,

WELLINGTON, October 1, 1970.
 
EXCELLENCY:

I have the honor to refer to recent conversations between representatives of our two Governments and to propose the following understandings with respect to the men and women of the United States of America who volunteer to serve in the Peace Corps and who, at the request of your Government, would live and work for periods of time in Western Samoa.

1. The Government of the United States will furnish such Peace Corps Volunteers as may be requested by the Government of Western Samoa and approved by the Government of the United States to perform mutually agreed tasks in Western Samoa. The Volunteers will work under the immediate supervision of governmental or private organizations in Western Samoa designated by our two Governments. The Government of the United States will provide training to enable the Volunteers to perform more effectively their agreed tasks. The Government of Western Samoa and the Government of the United States shall each bear a fair share of the cost of maintaining and accommodating Peace Corps Volunteers while in Western Samoa.

2. The Government of Western Samoa will accord equitable treatment to the Volunteers and their property; afford them full aid and protection, including treatment no less favorable than that accorded generally to nationals of the United States residing in Western Samoa; and fully inform, consult and cooperate with representatives of the Government of the United States with respect to all matters concerning them. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt the Volunteers from all taxes on payments which they receive to defray their living costs and on income from sources outside Western Samoa, from all customs duties or other charges on their personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use at or about the time of their arrival, and from all other taxes or other charges (including immigration fees) except license fees and taxes or other charges included in the prices of equipment, supplies and services.

3. The Government of the United States will provide the Volunteers with such limited amounts of equipment and supplies as our two Governments may agree should be provided by it to enable the Volunteers to perform their tasks effectively. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt from all taxes, customs duties and other charges, all equipment and supplies introduced into or acquired in Western Samoa by the Government of the United States, or any contractor financed by it, for use hereunder.

4. To enable the Government of the United States to discharge its responsibilities under this agreement, the Government of Western Samoa will receive a representative of the Peace Corps and such staff of the representative and such personnel of United States private organizations performing functions hereunder under contract with the Government of the United States as are acceptable to the Government of Western Samoa. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt such persons from all taxes on income derived from their Peace Corps work or sources outside Western Samoa, and from all other taxes or other charges (including immigration fees) except license fees and taxes or other charges included in the prices of equipment, supplies and services. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt the Peace Corps representative and his staff from the payment of customs duties or other charges on personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use. The Government of Western Samoa will accord personnel of the United States private organizations under contract with the United States the same treatment with respect to the payment of customs duties or other charges on personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use as is accorded Volunteers hereunder.

5. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt from investment and deposit requirements and currency controls all funds introduced into Western Samoa for use hereunder by the Government of the United States or contractors financed by it. Such funds shall be convertible into currency of Western Samoa at the highest rate which is not unlawful in Western Samoa.

6. Appropriate representatives of our two Governments may make from time to time such arrangements with respect to Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps programs in Western Samoa as appear necessary or desirable for the purpose of implementing this agreement. The undertakings of each Government herein are subject to the availability of funds and to the applicable laws of that Government.

I have the further honor to propose that, if these understandings are acceptable to your Government, this note and your Government's reply note concurring therein shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on the date of your Government's note and shall remain in force until ninety days after the date of the written notification from either Government to the other of intention to terminate it.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.

The Prime Minister of Western Samoa to the American Ambassador

GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN SAMOA, PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE,

1st October 1970
 
EXCELLENCY:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of today's date, which reads as follows:

"I have the honor to refer to recent conversations between representatives of our two Governments and to propose the following understandings with respect to the men and women of the United States of America who volunteer to serve in the Peace Corps and who, at the request of your Government, would live and work for periods of time in Western Samoa.

1. The Government of the United States will furnish such Peace Corps Volunteers as may be requested by the Government of Western Samoa and approved by the Government of the United States to perform mutually agreed tasks in Western Samoa. The Volunteers will work under the immediate supervision of governmental or private organizations in Western Samoa designated by our two Governments. The Government of the United States will provide training to enable the Volunteers to perform more effectively their agreed tasks. The Government of Western Samoa and the Government of the United States shall each bear a fair share of the cost of maintaining and accommodating Peace Corps Volunteers while in Western Samoa.

2. The Government of Western Samoa will accord equitable treatment to the Volunteers and their property; afford them full aid and protection, including treatment no less favorable than that accorded generally to nationals of the United States residing in Western Samoa; and fully inform, consult and cooperate with representatives of the Government of the United States with respect to all matters concerning them. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt the Volunteers from all taxes on payments which they receive to defray their living costs and on income from sources outside Western Samoa, from all customs duties or other charges on their personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use at or about the time of their arrival, and from all other taxes or other charges (including immigration fees) except license fees and taxes or other charges included in the prices of equipment, supplies and services.

3. The Government of the United States will provide the Volunteers with such limited amounts of equipment and supplies as our two Governments may agree should be provided by it to enable the Volunteers to perform their tasks effectively. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt from all taxes, customs duties and other charges, all equipment and supplies introduced into or acquired in Western Samoa by the Government of the United States, or any contractor financed by it, for use hereunder.

4. To enable the Government of the United States to discharge its responsibilities under this agreement, the Government of Western Samoa will receive a representative of the Peace Corps and such staff of the representative and such personnel of United States private organizations performing functions hereunder under contract with the Government of the United States as are acceptable to the Government of Western Samoa. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt such persons from all taxes on income derived from their Peace Corps work or sources outside Western Samoa, and from all other taxes or other charges (including immigration fees) except license fees and taxes or other charges included in the prices of equipment, supplies and services. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt the Peace Corps representative and his staff from the payment of customs duties or other charges on personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use. The Government of Western Samoa will accord personnel of the United States private organizations under contract with the United States the same treatment with respect to the payment of customs duties or other charges on personal property introduced into Western Samoa for their own use as is accorded Volunteers hereunder.

5. The Government of Western Samoa will exempt from investment and deposit requirements and currency controls all funds introduced into Western Samoa for use hereunder by the Government of the United States or contractors financed by it. Such funds shall be convertible into currency of Western Samoa at the highest rate which is not unlawful in Western Samoa.

6. Appropriate representatives of our two Governments may make from time to time such arrangements with respect to Peace Corps Volunteers and Peace Corps programs in Western Samoa as appear necessary or desirable for the purpose of implementing this agreement. The undertakings of each Government herein are subject to the availability of funds and to the applicable laws of that Government.

I have the further honor to propose that, if these understandings are acceptable to your Government, this note and your Government's reply note concurring therein shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on the date of your Government's note and shall remain in force until ninety days after the date of the written notification from either Government to the other of intention to terminate it. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration."

I have the honor to inform you that the Government of Western Samoa accepts the proposals contained in your note, and regards your note and my present reply as constituting an agreement between our two Governments, the agreement to enter into force on this day.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

SIGNATORIES:
Kenneth Franzheim, II
Ambassador
 
The Honorable TUPUA TAMASESE LEALOFI IV
Prime Minister, Western Samoa.
 
Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
Prime Minister
 
His Excellency
MR. KENNETH FRANZHEIM II,
Ambassador of the
United States of America,
Wellington.