Evening star., 1947-04-03
Jap-Mandafed Islands
Given 10 U. 5. byU. n.
Action on Trustee Plan
By the Associoted Press

LAKE SUCCESS, N. T., April
3.-The vast chains of Pacific
islands where Japan mounted
her attack against the United
States officially went under
American control today through
Security Council approval of a
United Nations strategic area
trusteeship.
Four hours after the unanimous
Council decision last night, Ameri-
can Delegate Warren r. Austin
boarded train for Washington with
the major victory in his pocket.
Mr.. Austin won the significant
triumph in a bitter round of clos
ing debate, where Soviet Delegate
Andrei A. Gromyko at one point
abstained on contested section
rather than exercise the veto.
Commenting that .'this demon
strates that the United Nations does
work." Mr.. Austin took the report
to Capitol Hill, where he was called
before House committee to testify
on expenditures of the American
U. N. delegation.
Mr.. Austin likewise advised his
old colleagues in the Senate, which
must finally ratify the agreement,
but this was expected to be rou-
tine step.
u. S. Gets Sweeping Rights.
The agreement gives the United
States sweeping rights, amounting
to virtual annexation, under which
the government may fortify the
vital islands, close them at will for
security reasons, and ban foreign
aircraft.
As sole administering authority
the United States also reserved the
right to reject any modification OF
alteration of the terms. This was
the point where Mr.. Gromyko raised
his strongest objections, contending
that the Council itself should hold
such powers.
In the end the 16-article document
rode through the, Council virtually
without change from the version
first made public by President Tru-
man.
Covered in the agreement were all
the former Japanese mandates, In
cluding the Marshalls, Marianas and
Carolines which housed such we'll
known war bases as Saipan, Tinian
Truk, Kwajalein, Eniwetok and Ma
juro. The 634 islands, sparsely set
tied, were described by Mr.. Austin In
debate as "vital to the security OF
the United States"
The Councils approval, virtually
assured when Moscow dispatched a
surprise note of acceptance to Wash
lington on the eve of Council consid-
Grafton, climaxed five months OF
study and negotiations.
Plan Announced in November.
In its note to the United States
the Kremlin laid great emphasis on
the major role played by America
in the Pacific war, and some observ-
ers Immediately speculated that the
Russians might be laying the
groundwork for similar agreements
covering areas in the European
theater where Soviet power was
predominant.
President Truman first announced
the American plan last November
and at the time circulated copies
Of the proposed agreement to all
governments concerned. The case
was laid before the Council early in
February by Mr.. Austin in a care
fully -worded speech in which he
made clear that the United States
would remain on the islands regard
less.
The agreement never was directly
opposed within the Council, but it
took two months to beat down Rus
sian, British and Australian at
tempts to modify the terms or de-
lay approval.
Left outside the range of the
terms we're such islands as Two
Jima, Chichi Jima and Okinawa
which were not League of Nations
mandates. Disposition of these
| islands will be taken up at the jap
anese peace conference, and there
were indications that the United
States would seek control OF them
through a U. N. agreement along