The Trust Territory

Title

The Trust Territory

Subject

Guam Times Weekly, volume 1 number 14, May 16 1964, The Trust Territory, article, map, Editor Marjorie E. Smith, United States, Trust Territory, Pacific, Polynesia, Mirconesia, Yap District, Mariana Islands District, Palau District, Truk District, Ponape District, Marshall Islands District, Yap, Palau, Truk, Ponape, Marshall Islands, atolls, island, Guam, Rota, Tinian, Anataghan, Sarigan, Almagan, pagan, Agrihan, Maug, Aguiguan Island, Goat Island, Koror, Babelthaup Island, Morlock Islands, Western Islands, Namonuito Islands, Hall Islands, Kusaie, Kapinamarangi, Nukuroro Atolls, Ratak, Sunrise Chain, Ralik, Sunset Chain, Majuro Atoll, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Bikini Atollss, High Commissioner M.W. Goding, Deputy Commissioner Richard Flores Taitano, government, self-government, colonialism

Description

An article from Editor Marjorie E. Smith that summaries the Trust Territory. From July 1947, the United States became responsible for the administration of 2100 islands scattered across three million square miles of the Pacific, which is home to those under the Trust Territory. A total of 84,777 people live on said 2100 islands, all together which is across 2700 miles west to east and 100 miles north to south. Everyone, except for two of the most southern islands (they are Polynesian), are Micronesians. The Trust Territory is divided into six districts: the Mariana Islands District; the Yap District; the Palau District; Truk District; the Ponape District; and the Marshall Islands District.

The Mariana Islands District includes Saipan as the district center, which expands the entire Mariana chain; Guam is included physically here but remains a U.S. Territory and not part of the Trust Territory; Rota; Tinian; Anataghan; Sarigan; Almagan; Pagan; Agrihan; Maug; and Aguiguan (Goat) Island.

The Yap District includes: Colonia, nine inhabited atolls; two single island formations; four uninhabited islands and atolls; Yap as the District center; Yap Island proper;

The Palau District includes: four small isolated coral islands; and one atoll; Koror as the District center; Palau, which includes the Palau Islands; and Babelthaup Island.

The Truk District includes: around 100 islands, 40 of which are permanently inhabited; Truk atoll as the District center; the Morlock Islands; the Western Islands; the Namonuito Islands; and the Hall Islands.

The Ponape District includes: eight coral atolls; Ponape, a volcanic island; Kusaie, another volcanic island; and two Polynesian islands, Kapinamarangi and Nukuoro Atolls.

The Marshall Islands District includes: over 1150 islands contained within two atoll groups, ‘Ratak’ the Sunrise Chain and ‘Ralik’ the Sunset Chain; Majuro Atoll, the District Center; Kwajalein; Eniwetok; Bikini Atolls; 29 low coral atolls; five low coral islands.

[Please see the map within the article for the full listing of islands and atolls within the Districts.]

The Trust Territory Headquarters are located in Saipan, in which High Commissioner M.W. Goding and Deputy Commissioner Richard Flores Taitano reside in, along with their administrative staff. Each district has their own set of administrators with their own staff, though due to the geographical locations and situations of each District, depending on the District, governmental help and services are either stationary, in which the people go to their government for help, or through field trips that tour the respective Districts. Local government is carried through a system of municipalities, which consists of either a group of islands or atolls or a division of a larger island. The head executive of each municipality is known as a magistrate, excluding Saipan and Tinian where they are referred to as mayors, and all are elected to office by the people. District level government is self-government which has slowly been growing. Elections of all public officials is by universal adult suffrage.

Creator

Marjorie E. Smith

Source

Guam Times Weekly

Publisher

Guam Times Weekly

Date

1964-05

Rights

Fair Use.

Relation

Publication produced by Manuel L. Jose

Format

PDF

Language

EN

Type

Text

Identifier

MARC_GTW_v1_n14_1964_The Trust Territory_14

Coverage

Guam

Original Format

Magazine

Call Number

DU 647 A26 MARC v.1 c.31

Page Number

16, 17, 18, 19, 20