The Month

• THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA POLL PIM Editor Angus Smales reports on the June poll in PNG the clear ‘numbers’ victory of former Prime Minister Michael Somare’s Pangu Party, the upsets, and the continuing uncertainty as to who will be the new prime minister a question that will not be answered before the first session of the new parliament beginning on August 3 11 • NEW CALEDONIA Helen Fraser reports from Noumea on the recent drastic changes in New Caledonian politics which culminated in the June 18 election of a new Government Council, with a majority of members from the Independence Front -1 5 • FRENCH POLYNESIA Marie-Th6rdse and Bengt Danielsson report on the various forms of post-election hangover endured by participants in the recent elections to the Territorial Assembly and Michael Bongiovanni interviews two leaders of the la Mana te Nunaa party, which is now represented (by three members) in the assembly for the first time 24, 19 • FRENCH POLICY IN NEW HEBRIDES In the second article of a three-part series Howard Van Trease continues his analysis of the goals of French policy in New Hebrides as revealed in a number of inadvertently acquired copies of monthly reports to Paris by successive Resident Commissioners in the old New Hebrides 27 • MICRONESIA US Ambassador Sherman tells the United Nations Trusteeship Council of US policy in relation to termination of his country’s Micronesia trusteeship, and journalist Ross Stevens reports on the behind-the-scenes drama in the US-Marshall Islands negotiations for their Compact of Free Association 31, 33 • YESTERDAY Renowned scholar Harry Maude relates the delightful story of ‘the Pitcairn Ring’, ‘the world’s most romantic wedding ring’ 55 (See back page for list of contents)

Pim September

Readers are advised that as from our September issue the typesetting and printing of PIM will be transferred from Sydney to Melbourne. The editorial office will remain in Sydney. The change is dictated by purely economic considerations, and will have no effect on the policies and content of the magazine.