THE LIMITATIONS OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY - THE UNITED-STATES AND THE MICRONESIAN TRUSTEESHIP, 1945-1947

Between 1945 and 1947, the United States sought an exclusive strategic trusteeship over Micronesia. Tensions developed, however, within the US government over settling for a trusteeship arrangement under the Un ited Nations versus annexation of the island groups. Eventually, the U nited States opted for a strategic trusteeship, but not before differe nces surfaced within the executive departments and between the United States and the Soviet Union over trusteeship or annexation of Micrones ia. A little-known aspect of the early Cold War, this controversy invo lved Great Power conflict over the issues of US imperialism, superpowe r tensions, and Pacific Basin colonialism.