Palau votes to keep American defence

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 8

Palau votes to keep American defence

NZPA-Reuter Koror, Palau Palau, a United Nations trust territory under American control for 39 years, has voted in favour of semi-independence which will leave the United States in control of its defence for 50 years. The plebiscite, like two others in the last four years, failed to obtain 75 per cent support for the so-called ' “Compact of Free Association,” but Washington and Koror have said they will accept a simple majority. About 72 per cent of 7500 ballots cast supported the agreement, according to official statistics released yesterday. About 10,000 voters are

registered on Palau, a . strategically-located archipelago stretching 640 km across the west Pacific.

United States officials said the compact could go ahead on a simple majority because Washington had agreed not to test, store or dispose of nuclear weapons in Palau. The 75 per cent support would otherwise have been needed to override those anti-nuclear provisions of Palau’s constitution.

President Lazarus Salii, who came to power after the assassination of Harup Remelik, agreed with the United States interpretation, but some officials said the situation was still

not clear. If enacted, the compact would also ensure about SUS 3 billion ($5.7 billion) in American aid and place Palau in a similar position to its neighbours—the . Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The compact would become effective only after the approval of President Reagan, the United States Congress and the United Nations.

In the Soviet Union, the Tass news agency described the plebiscite as part of a United States attempt to annex the trust territory and said it might veto the compact in the United Nations Security Council.