In This Issue

A TUNA DEAL AT LAST: But it wasn’t all plain sailing at the OQ last round of talks between United States and islands negotiators at Nukualofa. U.S. roving ambassador Ed Derwins ki came in at the eleventh hour to help clinch a deal. Our correspondent on the scene has exclusive details of the behind-the-scenes wrangles that led to an historic agreement.

But, as he points out, the time for celebration is not yet.

PROGRESS NOT PROTEST : Islanders at Kwajalein atoll, who 1 O have in the past complained of U.S. “apartheid” policies on the * island missile testing range have now decided that deve lopment is more important than protest. After years of tension between the atoll owners and the government in Majuro, the various leaders are moving towards compromise.

LIBYA TRAINING A MISTAKE: FLNKS leader Jean-Marie e Tjibaou now believes that sending a group of young Kanaks for ■& “self defence training” in Libya was a mistake. He told a Washington meeting of the Pacific Islands Association that his vision was of a peaceful and independent New Caledonia The meeting was less than impressed by the two Gastons Flosse and Sigur the first because of his over-willingness to speak at great length, the second for just the opposite.

DID SIR JULIUS DO SOMETHING WRONG?: He certainly 1Q doesn’t think so. In a frank interview the PNG deputy prime 1 *

minister defends his purchase of shares in Placer Pacific and challenges his critics to put up or shut up. But still the controversy rages, with prime minister Wingti indicating that he’ll set up a commission of inquiry if the critics can produce any evidence to back their claims.

KALSAKAU REPEATS SECRECY PLEDGE; The Vanuatu o„ finance minister underlines his backing for the secrecy rules in M Vanuatu banking. Anxious to play down publicity gained by Vanuatu's diplomatic links with Libya and the communist bloc countries, he has again told foreigners that the government strongly supports the Vanuatu Finance Centre whose clients will continue to be assured of confidentiality.

FRENCH MASTERSPY REVEALS SECRETS: Former head oo of the French security service responsible for the Rainbow 00 Warrior bombing talks about his life as a spy chief and boasts of his achievments in disabling “pacifist” vessels in Australian ports.

BID TO KEEP THE ISLANDS ENGLISH: Australia’s Monroe a-\ Doctrine for the South Pacific was alive and well at federation and before. And at least one top Australian military man connived with the “mother country” to gather intelligence on French activities in the region. But before thought turned to action, the “entent cordiale” intervened.