The US: A Need for Compassion

NEVER before has a strong, fair and compassionate United States presence in the Pacific been so needed. Today the region is struggling with a host of problems that reflect just how complicated and de manding the Pacific has become for all nations, including the US, that would claim a stake in its future.

Nuclear issues, political and racial differences in Fiji and New Caledonia, an increasing Soviet an Libyan pres ence, Japan’s growing financial role, fishing boundaries and treaties: all have to be faced squarely and resolved.

In the days when the Pacific was an “American lake”, the US had to do little more than send a little money here, a little muscle there, to keep its friends and preserve its interests. But such desultory involvement is no longer enough. The findings of recent studies and think tanks commissioned to gauge the Pacific’s attitudes to the United States and to advise policymakers in Washington make it clear that while the region is not generally hostile to the United States, there is widespread disappointment with many of its policies.

America has been accused by island nations at various times of being heavy-handed, out of touch with the real ities of the region and unduly driven by its own self-in

terest. Such criticism has stemmed from the United States’ implacable opposition to a nuclear-free Pacific, its dis inclination to distance itself from French colonial policies and bomb tests, its seeming acceptance of the actions of Colonel Rabuka and its fishing within island nations’ boundaries.

Such alienating policies often spur disaffected coun tries to turn to the Soviets, Libya and France; past masters at exploiting such disaffection. Vanuatu, Fiji and Nauru spring to mind.

The United States represents one of the best hopes for a peaceful, economically viable Pacific for the rest of this century and well into the next, but it must absorb some hard lessons. It needs to dispense its aid and influence and to formulate its Pacific policies with careful thought and compassion, and only after lengthy consideration of the needs of each country. As the think tanks so correctly recommend, the United States should recognise the Pa cific’s right to dignity and a degree of development that accords with its cultures.

If America heeds these lessons it will be doing much to contribute to a strong, secure Pacific. And that is in every one’s best interest.