a plebiscite
p. 38 · Read in the full issue
Micronesia wants a plebiscite
The establishment of a self governing Micronesian state in “free association with the US” rather than an independent Micronesia was the first recom mendation for the US Trust Territory in the final report of the Micronesian Political Status Commission, submitted to the Congress of Micronesia, Saipan, on July 21. The commission re commended independence should its first recommendation be “not feasible”.
Alliance with the US was neces sary, the commission said, be cause Micronesia needed economical support and it “wished to retain the present association with Americans and with the American way of life”.
The decisions contained in the final report were the same as those announced earlier in the year by the Commission in a statement of intent ( PIM, June, p. 25). The final report goes into detail about the problems likely to be encountered.
It said it feels Micronesia can approach the US on the new pro posals “in an attitude of confi dence”, and the commission members pledged to fully inform Micronesia of progress with preliminary negotiations over the next few months. The report proposed a constitutional con vention and a plebiscite.