Summary of Report by U.S. Government Survey Mission to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Solomon, Anthony M. (1963-09-20). Summary of Report by U.S. Government Survey Mission to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Solomon Report (NSC Summary) (Report). Washington, DC: Executive Office of the President; National Security Council. p. 48.

• Has attachment: File:DVC4LD6T.pdf

Abstract: Summary of the U.S. Government Survey Mission to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1963), transmitted within the Executive Office of the President and formalized through National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM 268); based on field survey conducted July–August 1963 across the Trust Territory; situates Micronesia within U.S. strategic trusteeship framework and identifies deteriorating economic conditions, limited infrastructure, and administrative inefficiencies under existing Trust Territory government; states explicit U.S. policy objective of securing permanent political affiliation of the Trust Territory with the United States through a plebiscite, in contrast to independence or continuation of trusteeship; proposes timetable centered on formation of territorial legislature (1964) and plebiscite (1966–1968); outlines capital investment program ($35–46 million, FY1965–1968) tied directly to influencing plebiscite outcomes and establishing minimum acceptable living standards; analyzes political structure of Micronesia, including limited national identity, district-level fragmentation, and role of traditional leaders, administrative elites, and commercial actors; identifies low popular engagement with political status questions and minimal support for independence; documents concerns among Micronesian elites regarding land tenure, immigration, and economic competition; recommends coordinated political conditioning measures including information programs, expanded education, scholarships, and Peace Corps deployment; proposes administrative restructuring including strengthened authority of the Secretary of the Interior, clarified control over the High Commissioner, increased use of contracted federal and private implementation mechanisms, and reform of budgeting and personnel systems; addresses long-term dependency on U.S. funding, projected subsidy levels, and limited capacity for rapid economic self-sufficiency; includes discussion of integration scenarios such as potential political linkage with Guam; reflects internal U.S. government framing of development policy as instrument of political outcome management within Cold War strategic context.