Nauru-Gilberts-Micronesia?

In his first address as leader of an independent country to an overseas legislature, President Hammer Deßoburt of the Republic of Nauru, recently addressed the Congress of Micro nesia at Saipan, Mariana Islands.

He had some strong words to say about the good aspects of independence and dropped some broad hints that Nauru and Micronesia could find themselves closer one day.

President Deßoburt said Nauru has “done about as expected in its first year”. There had been a few mistakes, but Nauru was learning.

“Mere survival”, with no major difficulties, was progress, he said.

Nauru had “no apologies” for her independent status. “In our country we believe that even good government is no substitute for self-government,” he said.

President Deßoburt said Nauru’s path to self-government would have been easier if the administering countries (Britain, NZ and Australia) had been “less paternalistic”.

Ua , , , He said he and the Nauruans did not see themselves as detached from Polynesia and Micronesia.

President Deßoburt, in an interview later, avoided giving any direct advice to Micronesia about its future, but said self-government “was the

order of nature.” He wanted to see closer transport connections between Nauru and Micronesia, An editorial in the Guam Daily News said Deßoburt’s visit “un doubtedly stirred the Micronesians”.

Th e Trust Territory’s Future Political Status Committee, which has been investigating the possible political direction of the territory, de cided in February to make a month lonB, visit to several S° ut b Pacific territories m March, Gilbertese Reuben Uatioa, 43, Chief Elected Member of the GEIC House of Representatives, told a Micronesian News Service reporter visiting Tarawa February that it may be a good B , to orm t l om^ I 1 ? 11 between the Gilberts and the , .. .

Reuben said it was the GEIC s aim to move towards self-determination, but he did not envisage independence, which was “risky at this moment.”

Some countries had jumped into it too soon. Self-determination for the GEIC might come in five years, when there was a better economic base.

The Speaker of the US Trust Territory House of Representatives, Bethwel Henry, addresses the Congress of Micronesia recently as Nauru's President Hammer DeRoburt ponders a point. Big question in Micronesia today is: Will Nauru and the Marshalls

eventually link up?