Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 2.djvu/158

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS--JUNE 15, 18, 1948 Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary General of the Inter-American Bar Association. Agreed to June 15, 1948. June 18, 1948 [H. Con. Res. 129] 61 Stat. 397. 22 U. .C., Supp. I, i 287 note. Establishment and composition of joint congressional com- mittee. Study and investi- gation. Report to congres- sional committees. TRUST TERRITORY OF PACIFIC ISLANDS Whereas the President, on behalf of the United States, pursuant to authority contained in Public Law 204 of the first session of the Eightieth Congress, has approved an agreement between the Security Council of the United Nations and the United States of America pursuant to which the United States has become the admin- istering authority for the trust territory of the Pacific islands, here- tofore known as the Japanese Mandated Islands of the Pacific; and Whereas it is the responsibility of the Congress of the United States to provide a permanent government for the trust territory of the Pacific islands; and Whereas the problem of administration of the trust territory of the Pacific islands is interrelated to the administration of Guam, Ameri- can Samoa, Wake Island, and other United States island possessions in the Pacific Ocean: Therefore be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That there is hereby established a joint congressional committee to be composed of three members who are members of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate, three members who are members of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, to be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and three members who are members of the Committee on Public Lands of the House of Representatives, three members who are members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The committee shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members. SEC. 2. The committee shall make a thorough study and investiga- tion of the islands, groups of islands, and other areas included within the trust territory of the Pacific and all other islands, groups of islands, and other areas in the Pacific which are possessions of, or subject to the authority of, the United States, including study and investigation of- (a) the peoples, customs, laws, economies, resources, and gov- ernments of such areas; (b) the interrelation, and the natural or appropriate integra- tion, of such areas; (c) the interrelation of the security of such areas and the security of the United States; (d) measures designed to advance the security and well-being of the peoples and economies of such areas; and (e) such other matters relating to such areas as the committee may deem appropriate. SEC. 3. The committee shall complete its study and investigation as expeditiously as possible, and shall forthwith thereafter report to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and the Com- mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Public Lands of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives the results thereof, recom- mending such organic and other legislation as may be necessary to provide for the civil government of such areas, and to assure to the peoples of such areas justice, peace, and tranquillity, a voice in their civic affairs and government, the development of their economies and 1434 [62 STAT.

�