Talks On Marianas' Future

The Marianas will have internal self-government, while the United States will remain responsible for defence and foreign affairs, under a tentative agree ment reached by the Marianas Political Status Commission and Mr Franklin Haydn Williams the personal representative of the US President after recent talks in Saipan. The talks do not pre-suppose that a new political set-up is “just round the corner”. There are many discussions ahead covering a wide range of matters, many of them of a technical nature. And any final agree ment will have to be endorsed by the people of the Marianas and the US Congress.

The tentative agreement provides for setting up a government in the Marianas under a constitution, to be drafted by a local constitution conven tion and approved by the people of the Marianas. The constitution will include a bill of rights.

The US delegation at the talks will support a request for the Marianas to have a non-voting delegate in Congress. Marianas residents will have the opportunity to become US citizens.

The US agreed in principle to help with a long term development pro gramme and the Marianas delegation acknowledged America’s need for land for defence.

The talks will continue at a technical level to discuss matters covered in the tentative agreement.