About-Turn

America's

In what appears to be a complete about-face in relation to US policy for Micronesia the US Government has come down in favour of “ex pedited negotiations” to end the 30year US trusteeship over Micronesia.

The suggestion of early indepen dence was raised for the first time during a US Senate hearing on the confirmation of Adrian Winkel as High Commissioner for the Trust Territory.

Senator Henry M. Jackson (Washington State) said he would like to see “a piece of paper up here” from the State Department on newspaper reports of a change in US policy on the Trust Territory. He was concerned about a report that the Carter administration had de cided to seek expedited negotiations to end the trusteeship agreement, and was willing to contemplate early independence for Micronesia.

Mr Frederick Z. Brown, a US State Department spokesman had been quoted as saying: “The United States continues to prefer a free as sociation agreement with Micronesia. But the United States is not in the business of dictating such arrangements. Thus, other forms of self-determination, including inde pendence, would be considered if that is the expressed desire of the Micronesian people”.

Mr Winkel. in reply to Senator Jackson, said he understood there had been a review of policy.

Mr Andon Amaraich, chairman of the Micronesian Congress Com mission on Future Political Status, said the option of independence was very important to Micronesia. When status talks were suspended in June, 1976, a free association compact was the objective of the US negotia tors.

“At times their approach was like a threat”, he said. “They would say, ‘you can ask for independence and less money, or free association and more money, but not both’.”