Micronesian Monthly 1952-53 V02 02

Micronesian Monthly 1952-53 V02 02. Micronesian Monthly (Report). Fort Ruger, O'ahu, HI: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. December 1952. p. 28.

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Abstract: Beginning in 1951, the Headquarters for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) regularly published a magazine that detailed its work in the region. From 1951 through the first issue of 1956, the magazine was known as the Micronesian Monthly; from the second issue of 1956 through the end of the run in 1980, it was known as the Micronesian Reporter. From 1951 through December 1967, publication cycles varied: For the most part, the magazine was produced monthly, though certain issues cover two or more months. Starting in 1968, the magazine was formally shifted to a quarterly publication cycle, which continued through the first quarter of 1980, when publication ceased.

The December 1952–January 1953 issue of Micronesian Monthly announced a landmark decision: President Harry S. Truman approved Dublon Island in Truk Atoll as the permanent headquarters site for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Secretary of the Interior Oscar L. Chapman emphasized that Honolulu, 2,000 miles away, was too distant for effective administration, while Truk was geographically central and home to nearly one-third of the Territory’s population. Existing Japanese-built facilities would provide a foundation, with further construction planned under the 1954 budget. The issue framed this move as a turning point, promising more direct, effective governance and closer ties between the administration and the island communities.

Notable articles included Chapman’s formal announcement, Alfred M. Hurt’s commentary in Honolulu newspapers, and analysis of the logistical and symbolic significance of relocating headquarters from Hawaiʻi to Micronesia. Reports highlighted the advantages of Dublon’s location, its harbor, and existing infrastructure, as well as the challenges of new construction and staffing. District reports brought in local news from across the islands—education progress, hospital work, agricultural developments, and shipping updates—linking everyday life to the broader theme of decentralization. The issue also continued regular features such as humor sections, cultural notes, and personnel changes.

Prominent figures and organizations included President Harry S. Truman, Secretary Oscar L. Chapman, and Executive Officer Alfred M. Hurt, along with High Commissioner Elbert D. Thomas and Deputy High Commissioner James A. McConnell. Institutions highlighted included the Trust Territory Headquarters, the Department of the Interior, and district administrations. The selection of Dublon Island underscored the growing shift toward placing key institutions within Micronesia itself, signaling both a practical and symbolic step in the Territory’s evolution under U.N. trusteeship.

Volume Two, Number Two (1952) Index: Boeki 10 Congress 2 Dubion 15, 27 Economic 20, 22 Education 19, 22 – 24, 26 Guam 4, 6, 17, 25 – 26 Japanese 1 – 2, 7, 10, 13 – 14, 19, 22, 25 Palau 3, 10, 23 Ponape (Pohnpei) 3, 5 – 6, 10, 14, 21, 23, 26 United Nations 14, 27