'Hopeful' Us-Micronesian

Talks In April

The next round of the US-Micronesian talks on the future political status of Micronesia will now begin in Palau in April. It had been expected they would take place earlier than this, at the conclusion of the current session of the Congress of Micronesia, which has been taking place in Palau.

In the Senate of the Congress on February 15, Senator Lazarus Salii, chairman of the Joint Committee on Future Political Status, said the committee was close to agreement with the US on a number of important issues, and he asked Congress to allow the committee more flexibility in its fu.ure negotiations.

He said if the committee did not have to have specific directions from the Congress, it could reach a tentative solution best suited to the needs and aspirations of Micronesia”.

Senator Salii’s request meant that agreement looked hopeful.

Meanwhile, on Saipan, Ricardo R.

Santos, who is a tenth-grade student at the Marianas High School, was arrested and charged with arson in

connection with the fire that damaged the residence of the High Commis sioner for the Trust Territory, Edward Johnston, last November, Police said they found dynamite, a r jfl e and other items, including jewellery allegedly belonging to the High Comm i ss i one r, in a cave said to b ave been used by Santos. Penalty for arson is up to $ 5 ,000 fine or 2 0 §in j or both .

Ambassador Arthur Hummel, Jr., who for seven months has headed the Office for Micronesian Status Negoti ation, is being transferred to the US Department of State as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the East Asian Bureau, in charge of South East Asian Affairs.