CHAPTER 7
SUMMARY OF AGENCY AND TERRITORY COMMENTS
The Departments of
American Samoa,
Interior and State and
the governors of
the Northern Mariana Islands,
Puerto Rico,
the
Virgin Islands, and Guam provided written comments on a draft of
this report, which .re included in appendixes I through VII.
Interior's
comments
support our observation
that
its
role
has diminished over time to a point where it no longer exerts
much direct influence over the territories.
Interior points out
that while it is committed to advocating territorial interests,
the realities of a massive federal bureaucracy limit federal
attention to territorial concerns.
In consonance with the concept of self-government, Interior believes the individual terri-
tories must develop their own priorities and work with Interior
to help achieve them.
The Department of State said organizational options for the
federal-territorial relationship should reflect the direction of
that relationship--greater autonomy within
determination.
the context of
self-
State said greater centralization of territorial
affairs within the federal qovernment could be perceived by the
territories as a move to reverse the present direction of U.S.
territorial
policy.
State
recognizes
the
need
for
better
coordination of both policy and program issues and suggests that
an
interagency
coordinating
committee
fulfill
those
needs.
State opposes establishment of a single committee for both the
flag territories and the Micronesian states, preferring a separate federal interagency organization for each.
Finally, State.
Said
it is sensitive to the desire of many flag
territories
:
2
:
to
expand foreign and regional relations and that it attempts to
take these interests into account in formulating foreign policy
initiatives, such as the Caribbean Basin Initiative.
The governor of the Virgin Islands
report is comprehensive and informative.
the Congress
promptly enact
a
law giving
concluded
that our
He recommended that
the
flag
territories
authority to develop a federal policy compact which encompasses
and determines economic and social direction as well as political status of each territory.
The policy should include a sig-
nificant economic development,
developing
assistance
States.
a
long-term
agreement
He
said
economic
between
that
U.S.
|
financial assistance package.
The governor of American Sanoa also said our report comprehensively presents the issues associated with present U.S. policy on the insular territories.
He also supported the concept
of
.
development
American
policy
on
Samoa
the
and
and
|
financial
the United
territories
needs
clearer definition and more effective direction.
The governor
said that a single federal agency, such as Interior, cannot
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,
a
i