divided on whether to continue or modify the current commonweaith arrangement or to seek statehood or independence. The debate illustrates the problem of the U.S. policy of selfdetermination with no ultimate status signal. put Since the mid-1970s, forward. In 1975, a number of status proposals have been a modified commonwealth proposal, the “Compact of Permanent Union Between Puerto Rico and the United States," was introduced to Congress but was never reported out of committee. In 1976, President Ford proposed statehood for Puerto Rico, but no action was taken. In 1978 and 1981, Presidents Carter and Reagan, respectively, supported statehood as an option if the Puerto Rican people expressed such a desire in a plebiscite. The status options remain a subject of great debate, permeating the political scene in Puerto Rico.|! They have sparked debate on whether the United States should take the initiative by specifying conditions which would have to be met before Puerto Rico can become a state. Some Puerto Rican leaders believe the policy of self-determination does not ade- quately address Puerto Rican concerns over future status. They believe the United States should indicate what it would permit on such issues as allowing Puerto Rico to retain Spanish as main language under its current federal its statehood, whether a gradual reduction in income tax exemption is permissible, and other’ important issues unique to Puerto Rico. leaders in Puerto Rico believe future status is a tion. | Guam ment ties. Better defining its relationship with the through political status is one of Guam's federal governhighest priori- Discussions to change status were most recently initiated in a 1982 referendum in which Guamanians voted overwhelmingly for commonwealth status. In December 1983, Guam officials and congressional representatives held a formal meeting to discuss Guam's commonwealth proposal. Guam is currently refining a draft commonwealth proposal which it intends to submit to the Congress. Guam's efforts to establish a new political status illustrate the evolving relationship between the territories and the lFor a comprehensive discussion of status issues, 1981 report, Puerto Rico's Political Future: With Many Dimensions (GGD-81-48). 12: 29002149. see our March A Divisive Issue wT at daemon TEU eG de Other local responsibility and that the people must decide for themselves what their future relationship with the United States should be, a view currently supported by the Reagan Administra-