Story: Foreign policy and diplomatic representation

Commissioner for Samoa, around 1920

Commissioner for Samoa, around 1920

Colonel Robert Tate, New Zealand's second resident commissioner for Samoa, speaks to an outdoor meeting under the protection of a sun umbrella, about 1920. Tate held absolute authority in Western Samoa as the Fono of Faipule, an advisory body of Samoan leaders, was not legally recognised until his departure in 1923. Referring to the Mau movement for Samoan independence, Tate told the governor of American Samoa that much of the unrest resulted from ideas of racial equality.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Robert Ward Tate Collection (PAColl-0085)
Reference: PAColl-0085-035

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Michael Green, 'Foreign policy and diplomatic representation - Origins of New Zealand foreign policy', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34266/commissioner-for-samoa-around-1920 (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Michael Green, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 May 2016