411805 Revised June June 15, MEMORANDUM TO HR. 23, i980 1980 COPAKEN Legal Aspects of a Proposal to Amend the Compact of Free Association_ I. Introduction 1. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate recentiy held preliminary hearings on the Compact of Free Association, the Governments of the Marshall on January 14, which was Islands initialled by and the United States 1980. It is our understanding “hat at those hearings, Chairman of the Committee, Sénators J. Senator Nenry M. Bennett Johnston and their concern that, Janes A. Jackson, ihe and McClure expressed pursuant to s-:ction 354 of the Compact, the right of denial established by section 311(b})(2) would terminate on the 15th anniversary of the effective date of the Compact (or at the end of the extension provided for by section 231), unless prolonged b- mutual agreement. 2. Bierne, the In subsequent conversations with Mr. the Committee's Legal Counsel, concerns raised by Senators James it was suggested that Cackson, Johnston and McClure, as well as certain preexisting cencerns of the Government of the Marshall Islands, might be solved by means of an amendment to the Compact, embodying the following Four Points: “lsdrah b/13/o/ 2OHOOS, Va; oe