SONFRONTA TION LOOMS Negotiations have continued for over C years on a “Compact of Free Association” dich will give the Pentagon evervthing it ‘;ires in the way of bases including ex- “usive responsibility for the security and -ense of the islands for 1UuG years. The ‘xpact will require only a majcrity of ates for approval, but one subsidiary agrec- ut allowing the introduction of nuclear .capons and other hazardous materials will cguire approval by 75 percent of the voters cause it modifies their constitution. A 1.€ tine rental payment of just $5.5 million “er 15 years plus scanty aid for development -= being offered to entice the voters. PRNTAGON PLANS FOR BELAU ARF FOURFOLD. ‘rst is the naval port in Malakal Harbor ich is expected to be a forward base for .© new Trident missile firinz submarines. e Strategic location, the ready access to ep water anc, most important, an isolated vt small population to deal with make Belau ideal place for Tridents to hide. But ne islanders are concerned ebout the high oimé rate and moral decay which surrounds ‘}itary installations. They also worry at dredging a new entrance through the ixrier reef which protects a dazzling array . sca life would upset the delicate under‘ster balance so critical to their survival. Second is 30,000 acres of Babeldaob, née largest island, for jungle warfare raining. That is 27% of Belau's land area. lief is that this would be a CIA project v train counter-insurgency troops of Asian ‘etators whc provide a favorable climate at American business; similar to the school of the Americas" in Panama where necial forces of repressive South American -pones are drilled. Third is joint use of the airports on sbeldaob and southernmost Angaur. The -beldaob airstrip will likely be a base for apanese anti-submarine warfare (45W) plane: ‘ich the Pentagon could allow under the .pact. Such use was mentioned in a 193% - Collece description of the joint U.S.san Micronesian Pacific Defense Force ‘TCPAC) and Japan has ASW reponsibility er that alliance. Japan is currentiy img 45 P-2C Orion subchasers from Lock- Continued from Page 3 need and has only half of very well be arrangements. MICPAC bases “ announced basing location for them. The other half could planned for Belau under MICPAC Target date for determining is 1982. Fourth and last are two weapons storage Sites on Babeldaob totalling 2,000 acres to Stockpile the nuclear, chemical-biological and conventional munitions needed to support the bases. A plebiscite to accept or reject the Compact could take place next year. Ina previous constitutional election $100,000 was provided by the Trust Territory High Commissioner as routine operating expenses to help pro-military supporters conduct political education. On one occasion three shots were fired into the “People's Committee" office but no one was hurt. Still the people remained firm in their resolve for a Nuclear free constitution. There are ominous signs of more violence to come. Last February che "Galaxy-10" -- registered in Panama -- sailed into Belau with a crew of four. Local fishermen suspected smuggling and alerted the police who obtained a search warrant for dope. Instead, accorGing to reports from Belau, they found M-16 rifles, ammunition and hand grenades along with surveillance equipment and $1 million in U.S. currency. U.S. officials removec the boat and its crew and nothing has been heard since. Speculation on this is frightenins. Belauans are adamant that their land remain an undisturbed sanctuary but Pentagon In the past, the interests are strong. United States has not demonstrated much patience with small governments that oppose [1 Salvador is a striking its policy. example. Will that be the fate of tiny Belau? The only hope for the Belauan people is a massive tide of public opinion supporting their determination to remain free. (Robert Aldridge is a widely published defense analyst who recently visited the Republic of Belau. He workéd for 16 years with Lockheed as an acrospace engineer deve- loping nuclear warhead missiles.)