Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-08-19


to mean that while a mandatory power
in strategic area might be required
to give an account of the welfare of
native peoples there it would not make
public details of its military installa-
tions.
Thus far the United States has not
committed itself to place any former
Japanese bases it may acquire under
United Nations mandate. The Charter
provides that arrangements for putting
territory controlled by a member of the
United Nations under mandate shall be
worked out BY the states directly con-
cerned, including the mandatory power.
This Is generally interpreted to mean
that state acquiring territorv from
former enemy is free to abstain from
placing 1t under United Nations control
if it so desires.
Unlike the League of Nations sys-
tenn, under which mandatory powers
were forbidden to fortify the areas they
controlled, the United Nations Charter
encourages members exercising "trus-
teeships" to use them in the interest
of general security. It provides that
the trustees shall make use of volunteer
forces, facilities and assistance Of the
mandate "in carrying out the obliga-
lions toward the Security Council un-
dertaken In this regard by the admin
istering authority"
Naturally this provision presupposes
that states exercising trusteeship over
strategic areas will not use them for
aggressive purposes, but as part of the
general security system established un-
der the Charter.
United States Missionaries Active,
Although few Americans may recall
the fact'today, the United States during
the middle part of the 18th century had
closer ties with the small islands in
cluded In the Japanese mandate system
than any other large power. This was
particularly true in the Marshalls and
Carolines.
In 1852 the American Board of Com
missioners for Foreign Missions, with
headquarters in Boston, established
missions at Kusaie and Ponape In the
Western Carolines. and in 1857 expanded
Its mission outposts to certain islands
in the Marshall group.
American missionaries Christianized
many OF the natives and were, in fact if
not legally, the virtual rulers of some
OF the smaller islands, then independ-
ent
American products and customs be-
came familiar to thousands Of the ma
tlves-a fact that may explain the en-
thusiastic welcome our Marines received
when they drove out the Japanese dur
ing the present war.
Germany Acquires Islands.
However, the United States made lit
tie or no effort to establish its authority
over any Of the Pacific islands texcept
Guam, which it obtained in the treaty
of Paris which ended the Spanish
American War; and gradually they
were acquired by Germany, primarily
because of their potential value as naval
bases. When Germany became in
volved in the World War, the Japanese
were prompt in seizins the islands, and
eAcA Sid1lIl W Iulc tilcIU unQeT mandate
was allowed, as noted, in the postwar
settlement.
The Marshalls. Marianas and Caro-
lines extend about 27OO miles from east
to west and about 1900 miles from
north to south. In all they include some
623 islands, most of them mere pin
points in the Pacific. Their total area
is approximately $50 square miles, or
less than that of Rhode Island.
According to japanese statistics of
1898, the latest available, the islands
had total population OF 121,128, of
whom 50,868 were natives, 70,141 Japa-
nese and 119 other foreigners. It is
notable that in the Is years between
1920 and 1888 the Japs increased from
3,671 to 70,141. Originally, the islands
produced only coconuts and phosphate
rock, but the japanese have started
sugar plantations on Saipan, Tinian and
Rota in the Marianas.
The economic value of the islands still
is slight But as naval and air bases
and as emergency landing fields for
civilian airliners some of the islands
are essential to the maintenance of
Americas postwar position in the Pa
cific.