Expectations'

There's A Revolution

Of 'Rising Pacific

By Carl Heine

The Micronesian Political Status Commission, which has been touring the South Pacific to gain firsthand experience of the range of political methods in the area and to discuss with Islands leaders common problems, is strictly a creation of the Congress of Micronesia.

The commission came into existence in 1967 when the US Congress was in the process of creat ing its own political commission to chart the future course of the Micro nesian islands.

The Administration played no significant part in the formation of the Political Status Commission, which is composed of six members representing the six districts of the US Trust Territory, headed by Senator Lazarus E. Salii, of the Palau district. Five of the members are senators and one is a representa tive.

The commission began its tour in Honolulu and has visited American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Before it returns it will also visit Papua-New Guinea, the Philippines and Okinawa.

So far members of the commission in their tour have been able to see the wide differences in political development, the relationships be tween Islanders and metropolitan powers, the attitudes of the people towards political change, and to learn something of their aspirations.

They saw contrasts American Samoa, well-off and contented, American oriented; Western Samoa, some financial difficulties but a very happy people confident in their future, a future that is theirs; Fiji, British Crown Colony, rich and well developed, with a greater degree of self-government.

The visiting commission did not expect to find a ready-made solution to the Micronesian situation in its travels. But in making this trip the commission has got a better under standing of South Pacific affairs, which may enable it to better assess the Micronesian situation.

Carl Heine, who wrote this report for "PIM", is a Micronesian, who has been travelling as a staff assistant with the Micronesian Political Status Commission during its Pacific tour.

The commission found there were things which Micronesia shared in common with the South Pacific Islands. They have the same aspira tions for greater freedom in the management of their internal affairs.

They have the same desire to improve their standard of living.

There seems to be a revolution of rising expectations among the people of the Pacific Islands. In fact, the whole Pacific basin is in a turmoil.

The people are looking for some kind of change, especially the younger, educated generation.

The younger generation is not satisfied with the way things are, and this sense of dissatisfaction is grow ing. The major powers are responsible for the existing conditions, for these islands have been controlled from without for a considerable time, and the major powers have not reflected the general aspirations and feelings of the people they govern.

The people demand change and dignity, and the five Pacific powers will have to cope with these problems and come up with some acceptable answers.

O US Government approval for a SUS 2 million-plus loan to finance construction of over 100 new rooms in American Samoa’s luxury Pago Pago Intercontinental Hotel was ex pected in early April. Intercontinental Hotels, a subsidiary of Pan American Airways, which manages the hotel for a fee, will contribute nearly SUS4OO,OOO, and the Bank of Hawaii, which has recently become associated with the Bank of American Samoa, will supply another part of the loan.