Embattled island

by Arnold H. Leibowitz

Palau was the last trusteeship, not only of the United States but the last trusteeship in the world. For 25 years the United States tried to negotiate an agreement - a compact - with Palau. Under this compact, Palau would gain its independence as a Freely Associated State and a large amount of money - $500 million. The U.S. would obtain certain military base rights and passage of nuclear power ships and submarines. The compact took on enormous symbolic importance throughout the world because of a provision in the Palau Constitution that Palau could not grant the U.S. nuclear rights without the approval of 75% of the people of Palau. A number of groups fought against ratification of the compact by Palau. They viewed Palau as the symbol of a nuclear free Pacific and the hope for an environmental preserve against great power imperialism and military intrusion in the Pacific. . Three Congressional committees with different views toward the compact engaged the ratification issue. In Palau,