APPENDIX VI
APPENDIX VI
We fully realize that the formulation of
status
options
Report
nor
political
is neither the focus of the
the
intent
of
Senator
Draft
McClure's
request, and that a factual narrative concerning the
Compact has nothing to do with the use to be made of
the
Report
thereafter.
However,
Since
any
discussion of organizational or policy changes will
necessarily
involve status,
we feel that
explicit
acknowledgment of the fact that Puerto Rico's situa-.
tion is completely different from those of the other
territories
would
be more realistic
and
more
in
keeping with the purpose and intent of the Report.
VI.
National
Security.
(to
effect
the
that
We find the emphasis on page 2
U.
S.
interests
focus
national’ security) to be --if true-- a sad
commen-
tary
86-year
on the significance of Puerto
Rico's
history as a United States possession.
reads
This section
as if Puerto Rico were a foreign nation which
has to be persuaded to continue "close and
relations" with the U. S. Puerto
Ricans
U.S. citizens for almost 70 years.
friendly
have
armed forces residing on the Island.
Puerto Ricans reside in the 50 states.
LJ
3
©
86
been
Presently there
are some 150,000 Puerto Rican veterans of the U.
5000
on
Ss.
Some 2,000,000