Registry
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT
AL SURVEY
Type 1 +
From
To:-
TERRITORY: THE GILBERT ISLANDS
POPULATION: 55,000
SPECIAL FACTORS:
None
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
DSR 11
PROSPECTS FOR INDEPENDENCE:
Should become independent about mid-1979. The Banabans' campaign for the separation of Banaba (Ocean Island) is a political complication but not a barrier to the achievement of independence.
Will require budgetary aid soon after independence but hopes to become economically viable in the longer term.
RECOMMENDED POLICY: To bring the territory to independence as early as possible in accordance with the wishes of the Gilbertese Government and people.
CONFIDENTIAL