Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 85.djvu/122

 92

PUBLIC LAW 92-39-JULY 1, 1971

[85 STAT.

Public Law 92-39 July 1, 1971 [H. J. R e s. 617]

20 UST 2654.

Micronesian Claims Act of 1971.

JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize an ex gratia contribution to certain inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands who suffered damages arising out of the hostilities of the Second World War, to provide for the payment of noncombat claims occurring prior to July 1, 1951, and to establish a Micronesian Claims Commission.

Whereas certain Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, formerly under League of Nations mandate to Japan, suffered from the hostilities of the Second World W a r; and Whereas the United States, while not liable for wartime damages suffered by the Micronesians, has responsibility for the welfare of the Micronesian people as the administering authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and Whereas the Governments of J a p a n and the United States entered into an agreement on April 18, 1969, to contribute ex gratia the equivalent of $10,000,000 to the Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in view of the suffering caused by the hostilities of the Second World War, each Government contributing the equivalent of $5,000,000, Japan's contribution to take the form of products and services; and Whereas payment of these ex gratia contributions to certain Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands will meet a longstanding Micronesian grievance and will promote the welfare of the Micronesian people; and Whereas certain Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands claim to have suffered damage to or loss or destruction of property, personal injury, or death caused by military and civilian employees of the United States Government and arising out of accidents or incidents between the dates of the securing of the various islands of Micronesia by the United States Armed Forces and July 1, 1951, and within an area under the control of the United States at the time of the accident or incident; and Whereas the United States is desirous of making an equitable settlement of these claims by way of a monetary contribution: Therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this resolution may be cited as the "Micronesian Claims Act of 1971". TITLE I

U.S. ex gratia contribution.

"Micronesian inhabitant of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands."

SEC. 101. (a) I t is the purpose of this title that, with respect to war claims, the United States should make an ex gratia contribution of $5,000,000 matching an equivalent contribution of the Government of Japan, to Micronesian inhabitants of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands who are determined by the Micronesian Claims Commission to be meritorious claimants, in particular amounts to be awarded by the Micronesian Claims Commission, and that the Secretary of the Interior, hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary", or his designee, shall pay to said Micronesian claimants as soon as possible following his receipt of the final report of the Micronesian Claims Commission on the claims allowed, such amounts as are finally certified pursuant to section 104 of this title. (b) A "Micronesian inhabitant of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands" is defined for the purposes of this joint resolution as a person who: (1) became a citizen of the Trust Territory of the Pacific

�