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Salient. Victoria University Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 14. June 20, 1975

The United States and Micronesia

The United States and Micronesia

Micronesia became a United Nations Trust Territory under the United States administration in 1946. As a Trustee, the USA was obligated to develop Micronesia toward self-government and independence.

However, the US has breached its obligation to develop Micronesia towards such a goal. Instead the US government has continually used the Micronesian islands and waters for its nuclear testing and military bases. The US has failed in the last five years of status negotiations with the Micronesians to allow self-government or independence.

Photo of a pacific island

The US has in the last two years engaged in a divide-and-conquer colonial policy of negotiating with the Marianas (one chain of islands in Micronesia) to separate it from the rest of Micronesia. Some leaders of the Marianas have recently agreed to let the Marianas become part of the United States with 'Commonwealth Status'. If this becomes permanent the Marianas will be a military colony of the US separate from Micronesia. The US is trying to rush through the Commonwealth proposal in a premature June 1975 referendum in the Marianas.

Micronesia is holding its national constitutional convention in July 1975 to establish its government and terminate American colonial administration. However, the US is trying to bypass this process by separating the Marianas from Micronesia.

The Nuclear Free Pacific Conference sent a delegation in 'June to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations to explain the the situation in Micronesia called on the UN not to recognise the Mariana plebiscite as a legitimate act of self determination in accordance with Resolution 1514 XV of the General Assembly.