U.S. TRUSTEESHIP OF JAPANESE ISLANDS

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1946, Page 5

U.S. TRUSTEESHIP OF JAPANESE ISLANDS

I AGREEMENT DRAFTED I Recd. 5.5 p.m. Washington, Nov. 7. I An article in the United States dratt I Trusteeship Agreement for Japanese , Islands, the text of which has just been , released, empoweis the United States I to establish naval, military and air ; bases and erect fortifications in trust l territory, to station and employ armed i forces there, and make use of voiunl leer forces from the territory. All these forces will be usable in fulfilling the United Nations Chatter obligation to maintain international peace and security as well as for iocal i defence and maintenance of law and order. The United Slates sltall have full powers of administration and legislative jurisdiction over the islands, subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, and may apply there such United States laws as it may deem appropriate to local requirements. The United States undertakes to foster the development of trust territory economically, socially and educationally, as well as promote the adi vancement of the inhabitants toward I self-government. Traffic rights to air- , craft flying into and from the terri- ■ j lory shall be subject to agreement beI tween the United States and the nation to which the planes belong. Article 13 of the draft agreement provides that articles 87 and 88 of the ’. United Nations Charter shall be applicable to the trust territory, provld- ’ ed the administering authority may ■ determine the extent of their applic- ’ ability to any areas which may, from time to time, be specified by it as ’ closed for security reasons. 1 It is learned from official Washington sources that Article 13 means that the United States, as the administeiing authority, may exclude United Nations representatives and inspectors from closed areas. United Slates, at. ■ its own discretion, may proclaim the entire trusteeship a closed area. The United States, subject only to the requirements of public order and L security, shall guarantee the inhabit- ■ ants freedom of religion, speech and press, as well as of migration and 1 movement. The United States is empowered to constitute the trust terri--1 tory into a customs, fiscal or administrative union, or federation with other territories under American jurisdiction, where this action is not inconsistent with the basic objectives ot the international trusteeship system. A further article stipulates that the United States may accept membership in any regional advisory commission, . or regional authority, and engage in , other forms of international co-opera-tion in relation to the islands.