The World - News from June 22, 1987

A special Palau Supreme Court panel canceled a referendum two days before voters were to decide a new political status for the U.S. territory in the Pacific. The panel said it is illegal for Palau to establish so-called voter service stations overseas to receive absentee ballots. The estimated 2,000 potential overseas voters are about one-fifth of the registered vote. Overseas voters have overwhelmingly endorsed the agreement, which would bring self-government and nearly $1 billion in U.S. aid. Opponents say Palau could get a better deal by rejecting the agreement. Another issue is a provision granting access to U.S. warships, since Palau’s constitution bans nuclear weapons.