, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON. D.C. 20301 8 JUL 1978 MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS mrs ree SUBJECT: Micronesian Status Negotiations By letter dated March 27, 1978, Secretary Duncan made an informal request to Peter R. Rosenblatt, the President's Personal Representative for MicrOnesian Status Negotiations, that he include on the agenda for the negotiations potential claims arising out of United States nuclear testing and related activities. A copy of his letter is attached. In @iscussions between the Department of Defense and the . Office of Micronesian Status Negotiations, Ambassador Rosenblatt has expressed concern that his instructions from the National Security Council do not authorize him to raise this question in the negotiations. To remedy this concern, we believe that Ambassador Rosenblatt should be authorized to discuss the issue. The issue is ripe for decision now because the Ambassador departs for Micronesia July 14, 1978 to present and explain the text of a draft compact preparatory to a plenary negotiating session which will commence cn or about August l, 1978. The current draft is silent on the claims question. The negotiations presently are being concucted pursuant to PD/NSC-11, dated May 5, 1977, as amended by PD/NSC-34. I would like to see these instructions supplemented as follows: (1) To direct the United States negotiator, (2). To direct the United States negotiator prior to the next Plenary Session, to raise with all relevant parties the possibility of arranging for a final disposition as part of the status negotiations of all potential claims arising out of United States nuclear testing and related activities in Micronesia; to obtain from such discussions the views of such parties with respect to the parameters that any such final disposition might take; and