APPENDIX VI APPENDIX VI November 28, 1984 Mr. Frank C. Conahan Director National Security and International Affairs Division U.S. General Accounting Office Washington, D. C. 20548 Dear Mr. Conahan: Enclosed are my comments on the Draft Report of the General Accounting Office (GAO) and Insular Policy. Study, Issues AffectingU. S. Territory From the point of view of analysis of organizational problems,- the Draft Report appears to be fairly thorough with regard to the Pacific territories. I find, however, that it adds nothing to previous studies of Puerto Rico. In fact, it is essentially a study of the problems of the Pacific territories, which, to my knowledge, have not previously received adequate attention. My comments emphasize one main concern: the nature of the re- quest from the Senate and House was such that GAO had to analyze all of the territories, whereas in terms of history, integration with the United States, citizenship, experience with in- ternal self-government, population, degree of economic develop- ment, social conditions, not to mention culture, Puerto Rico is not at all similar to the other territories, particularly those inthe Pacific. I also find that the [raft Report emphasizes the quasi-sovereign aspects of the Compact of Free Association for Microresia, with- out taking into account the continued control of the United States over the territory for as long as it is convenient. The I08028 74