Ellice Islands break away
(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) SUVA, October 2.
The Ellice Islands, nine tiny islands in the Central Pacific have proclaimed themselves the new British colony of Tuvalu and broken away from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony. The first Governor of Tuvalu (Mr Thomas Laying) read the proclamation at Funafuti in the island group, which has a total area of 11 square miles and a population of 7000. The islands’ Polynesian inhabitants wanted to avoid political domination by 50,000 Micronesians in the Gilbert Islands about 900 miles to the north.
Speaking in Suva before flying to Funafuti to make the proclamation, Mr Laying said that while Tuvalu had no resources except fish, its people wanted full independence in about three years, regardless of their economic problems.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33964, 3 October 1975, Page 9
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128Ellice Islands break away Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33964, 3 October 1975, Page 9
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