United States' Trust Territory in the Pacific Islands: A Potential Sea-State

Abstract

The United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands encompasses more than 2,000 islands concentrated in three groups—the Marianas, Marshalls and Carolines. After twenty years of the present administration, the people of the Trust Territory have a democratically elected Congress of Micronesia. But all the administrators at the policy-making level are Americans. The Mlcronesians are expected to move forward as the ways of the past are denied them by their own achievements and world pressures. The Islanders shall have to decide for themselves the future form of government. The prospects of self-determination carries with it certain questions which seek explanations and understanding, if not solutions. A most fundamental question is "When shall the Micronesians be given the right of self-determination?"