The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE OBSERVER. 18 JUNE 1972 fl I I I III IV I 7-i JAPAN Sato quits in a huff from MARK MURRAY 7 June a buiM of laer aiiirw l.in.inese Republic of Minerva from SHIRLEY BARKER: Suva, Fiji, 17 June 3 Israel marriage row from ERIC SILVER: Jerusalem, 17 June vsm ou.iv an- nouncci! the enj nf hi. loni; retyn lc Japan's Prime Minister directly in the bv tcle-nu'ii. Only he id, 'can tell tlfe for more than seven vcirv h.t presided over Ihe greatest period jtinuth in Japanese histor srupncj h.iek at a tWmn.il Press uh.eh has selected him djd', crr'ieism tlkrrii into a Press conference room cl hmMmc Mr ViM Mirvcvcii the Mitirc reporters, s.a.d he did not biased nespnc-, noiild use TV to dirculy t'" the people He Ircn ualked out On his return 10 mmu'es later, the reporters he tan shouting ancr'i protests VI Sato responded, ivir'-a nme heat If am a httht 10i can have one' The Press stamped our Then, a sohtarv fimire at his isolated desk, Mr Sato made his farewell speech. -i spectacle, though it may have warmed the hea-s or Press.

t. pen elscsshere in 10 ssor.d, pretty summed up Mr Sato's political s'y'e to many Japanese Fvcn his sn uife has recent to a national magtmree that he is 'too to he a pol.tician.' is with ev.dent relief that the tsso mam contenders in the ruling 3 iheral Democratic Ii.ivl- ccine out olhcialK ss their r.ds to urtne me nntior beV.rd 1r the jeadcr-elect oils or; 5 Je al claimant are Mr TaVeo ul, i. da. nun I ore: en nster a-id Mr k.ikcc The M- ear-old tor Jrade and Industry In spue of successes. Mr Sato, vsfierhcr -iistiti iMs c- not.

heen hl.ipini for sue cuts a. nreru to orr.imr irprisc approac' pror uarmnit l.apan. ani tnc revet hi of the ven Pretemii. as his vd'e puts it. ro he a po 1 1 1 ic i hose actions a re his answers Mr Sato has home these a -tacks silence inril KING Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who rules the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, has formally proclaimed Tonga's sovereignty over the North and South Minerva Reefs, where a group of Western escapists from the strains of modern life are trying to set up a new society of their own.

Called the Ocean Life Research Foundation and based on London and New York, the group has laid claim to the reefs two vast and desolate coral formations 216 miles west of Tonga. Its spokesman here in Fiji an American named Mark Oliver tells me anyone can annex land which lies above high water. Actually, the Minerva Reefs are exposed only when the tide is out, but Mr Oliver says his new society has met the requirements of international law by building a small, permanently visible island of coral and sand on each of the reefs. The foundation plans to reclaim" 400 acres of land and to establish a seaport settlement there for people who want to escape from crippling taxes, government interference, the rise in violent crime and the worst excesses of permissive Western society. Mr Oliver says 72,000 has already been spent on the project chiefly on engineering consultants and an Australian dredging company has been asked if it will scrape up the new Republic of Minerva, with cliffs not less than 10 feet high.

The Tongan reaction has been sharp. The King, who made his declaration of sovereignty in his speech from the throne when opening the Tongan Parliament this week, has been ont to inspect the Minerva reefs. As a result, he promptly ordered a party of 90 Tongan convicts to be shipped there with building materials, to construct on each reef an island more substantial than either of those set up by the MineTva Republic. The Tongan flag now cracks in the Pacific breeze over each of the new islands, in mute conflict with the flag of the Minerva Republic a yellow torch, of freedom on a blue sea already hoisted there- by the pioneers. The King says the Tongans will henceforth exercise territorial rights over an area of 12 miles radius from the middle- of e.aoh' island, Where lighthouses are to be built.

The south THE brittle unity of Golda Meir's coalition is threatened this weekend by one of the i' periodic Israeli confrontations of Synagogue and State. The issue this time is civil marriage, and ihe most likely outcome is an increase in the Prime Minister's political debt to her I National Religious partners, lasT effort will be naade at to-j morrow's Cabinet meeting to per-; snade the small. Independent iberal faerton to drop its private Hill which uoaitd allow cavil mar-; nace to Jews w-hom the rabbis re-! tnsc to wed. Ihe Liberal leader Gideon a usner. seems determined, however, to table the Bill in Parlia-, ment op Wednesday present, all matters of family lass come under the Orthodox Tibhinical authorities.

There is no civil marriage and no ctvi disorce The rabbis will not marry I at least three of Jew Descendants of the Cohanim, the priestly caste, who want to marry a divorced woman mamzerim. the Jewish outcast bastards who want lo marry anyone other than another mamzer; and people whose Jewish credentials are in dispute. Mr Hausner, the former Attorney-General who prosecuted Adolf Eichmann, said this weekend that from the evidence of his own post-bag, hundreds of citizens were atiected annually. "There are people disqualified from building a family in Israel he said. 'This is revolting to our standards The problem has been sharpened by the wave of immigration from the Soviet L'nion.

Some of the hasty conversions of the Gtntile spouses nf Jewish immigrants are still being oestioned by the religious authorities here. And according to Hausner, there are at least 300 Russian families trapped by the illegitimacy law, which defines as a mamzer any child born to an adulterous wife tadultcrous hus bands are immune because they are notionally entitled to take more than one wife anyway). In the Russian cases, the wive could not obtain religious sanction for their divorces because the rabbinical courts were not allowed to function. There is, however, one Idophole. Jews who cannot persude a rabbi to marry them can travel to Cyprus and go through a civil ceremony there Israel registers them as married when they come back.

Mrs Meir's coalition commands 76 of the Knesset's 120 seats Of these. 12 are National Religious and four Independent I. iberal. If Mr Hausner forces the issue, Mrs Meir will prefer her more numerous religious partners. The Independent Liberals will be driven into the wilderness.

And the Prime Ministet will be left with only the four Arab and Druze MPs to buttress her Labour alignment against the Theocrats. IS TE3 TMU reef has been renamed Teleki Tonga and the north reef Tokelau. Meanwhile, leaders of the Minerva Republic have not been idle. In courtly letters, they have invited recognition by the nations of the world. Back at their executive headquarters at 426 East Washington Street, Orange, California, publication has started of a newspaper called the Minerva Times.

Tins item has been added to an information kit' available to interested persons at $200 a throw and containing a copy of the Minerva Constitution, a picture of the Minerva flag, maps of the reefs and blank application forms for those seeking admission to the new society and willing to pay a year's subscription to the Minerva Times. However odd the foundation's enterprise may seem, it is evidently being taken seriously in the South Pacific. This week, nation -members of the Pacific Islands Producers' Association met in the Cook Islands to express strong support for Tonga's declaration of sovereignty. One Prime Minister present congratulated the Tongans on becoming the South Pacific's first indigenous imperialists. Rather more solemnly, Fiji's Premier, Ram Sir Kamisese Mara, has described the foundation's claim as 'a dangerous.

because there are many reefs in the South Pacific similar to the Minerva Reefs on which other new societies might be set up. He is backing Tonga's claim on grounds of usage. If this dispute ever comes' before the Court, Tonga should be able to present some interesting evidence. There are, for instance, Tongans buried on the Minerva Reefs, following a disaster in 1962 when a cutter carrying 17 Tongans to New Zealand broke up on the coral. In 1966, a tomb was raised over the dead men and, at the same 'lime, the Tongan flag was raised.

King Tupou TV, who rules the sole rmrying kingdom in the South Pacific, is the son of that Queen of Tonga, who was sensationally popular with the London crowds at th Coronation in 1953 of Queen Elizabeth II. I I their effects. (Over 500 chemicals introduced into new en- vtronment each year.) World register of unpolluted rivers. Firm international action against river pollution not forthcoming.) a global environ-. mejutal monitoring system with 110 stations approved.

RESOURCES Emergency programme to collect endangered plant and animal species. A 10-year ban on commercial whaling. (World's! major whalers, Russia and Japan, 'have not approved; ban must be ratified by International Whaling Commission.) A world forest appraisal and protection programme. Gene banks to be created to preserve characteristics of wild flora and fauna, on which stability of ecosystem and future breeding stocks depend. A global soil map to indicate the areas in danger of degradation.

UN surveillance of lakes and rivers shared by countries. (Effect limited by national sovereignty clause.) More emphasis on control and recycling of agricultural and industrial wastes. Data on environmental effects of mining to be exchanged. All these proposals are still only recommendations, some directed to governments and the remainder for international action. Ail have to surmount the UN General Assembly's session in the autumn.

mm arose rfyour hone A flawless, lonir. I stemmed rosein a satui-hned box. What nicer Iway to say "I love vou" "Congratulations" "Happy Birthday" "Get well soon" "Thank vou for the lovely weekend" Or what you And you can order one anytime by dialing 01-7273922 then afterwards Doraim? a cheque or F.O. in the post A Unitase Is 1.25 inclushce of packing and delivery by hand in Central LondEon-by post anywhere elae in Alternatively 1 there's our aew UNICEAM service. Pol Roger Cbampagne- uacraa in specially designed wooden crate.

A Grande Marque full bottle of Vuitaffe Champagne 5.75 Both prices are all-inclusive, of course. PS; If you are a little forgetful about Birthday and Anniversaries order your UNIGIFT by phone or letter now and we will make sure it arrives with your message on the correct date. QUE. l86CampdenIfill RoadXondrjA W8. Old Miss Webb's greatest ear LONELINESS.

fear 1 shall not be able to move at all soon and then I'll see nobody. Her rent is going up. The only heating is a one bar electric fire in the living room nothing in the bedroom. eke out a small joint over a week and long French loaf lasts me ten days." All over Britain there are old people suffering from loneliness and poverty in rooms so damp paper won't stay on the walls or where long flights of stairs are 8 "daily agony." 300,000 people urgently need re-housing. Help the Aged have already changed the misery of such housing by building flats designed for the needs of old people.

But many more need to be built, quickly warm flats, where they can live independently, no high stairs to climb, friendly common rooms and a warden to call in case of need. Every 2 you send can be turned into 50 of housing for someone in need, thanks to local loans. Can ybtt think ol a better way to spread happiness and to help the courageous old people battling aganst intolerable condi tions (100 names a flat in memory of someone dear to you) Send your gift quick to help people like Miss Webb. To Help me Aged, Room OR 6. Denman Street, London A ZAP.

Cases auotat ftom the reoort rTrmm came Home" iisutd by tjetp the Aged PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE RIGHT ANSWER by seeing the BOSCO LTD Advertisement on page 19 A Mighty Little Giant Performer. UnSgift What Stockholm has achieved from GERALD LEACH and JEREMY BUGLER PAUL HILL if the environmentalists have their way, more of us will be taking an interest In future In the horse fair which held every June at Appleby, the quiet county town of Westmorland on the banks of the River Eden. More than 2,000 Gypsy caravans turned up last week, the largest Gypsy gathering of the year in Britain. As with secondhand cars in less idyllic market places, a brisk wash down beforehand helps to improve the look of the merchandise. Anti-Franco bomb blast Madrid, 17 June.

A home made bomb exploded lait night at the mam gate of the Justice Palace. Damage was light and no injuries were reported. The bomb wars be lieved to have been placed by arm' Franco element. take care of personal Stockholm, 17 June MOST of the labours of the United Nations conference on the human environment this week have been centred on an Action Plan discussing, redrafting and voting 120 proposals making up the first comprehensive international attack on problems of the environment. Some proposals fell by the wayside, some were diluted to the point of impotence.

Here is a check-list of the major proposals that were approved. They now form the world's instructions to a new UN environment secretariat which, if ratified by the UN General Assembly this autumn, will cany on where Stockholm left off ENERGY Action monitoring and forecasting the environmental impact of energy use. Study of available energy resources and consumption trends. (First results due by 1975 at the latest.) Governments with high consumption asked to consider reductions-, all Governments asked to site power stations so as to minimise environmental impact. HUMAN SETTLEMENTS More aid and a special fund to provide for housing and city planning, especially in Third World.

(Fund backed only by poor nations.) Special training for field workers in community projects in Third World. More WHO aid for sewerage and water schemes. POPULATION More aid for national family planning programmes and more research by WHO to avoid population (A voluntary scheme, opposed in the vote by most Catholic countries UN population conference planned for 1974.) POLLUTION States to miniirtise release of toxic or dangerous especially if persistent, like heavy metals and DDT. (Get-out clauses sanction use if essential to human health or food International co-operation to control pollutants crossing State borders. States to study and consult others on activities risking climatic changes (Concorde, for example.) Ocean dumping convention call for conference in London next October.

(Convention does not cover military wastes, on United States Call to eliminate deliberate oil dumping from ships by mid-1970s. Condemnation of nuclear tests, especially in atmosphere. (Opposed by China. France and Gabon.) All radio-active releases from nuclear power stations to be registered and research on waste disposal increased. International registry for man-made chemicals and srudv nf NEWC-llO If vour caroets were minerL is this all the insurance would buy? According to some research 'wear and tear' even if the articles are If you were to ketone the we ye had done, neon Hon pynt-r-t.

lln ij naLK uj geuune, xne we've had done, peonle don't exnect up to five old. vears same policy could Tbc NEW dijpn caracuir C-110 eXxi to much ooni; jo IrtTlc and ti rtrj onxnpAci became of one tiny Super Laree Scab WKCfTawd BrJn CelS. So latter ihen Lbe rtp of your ftnicmiti carrW no come tea data ibo otIimJ ot elecarmi caoipjrvems. Vuis Anwer in the PaJra of rv Hm1 Anywhere acytrme tit a Huh Foar-FunctJoo Port ocrnanc. Add.

subtrta tnutUpJv drvide do chain and mixed clcu Jon coostam mulu tu Iobooii and diY-talon. true tredtt balance prvib rens Decimal Prtlon Ajiiwoi are accurate to tbe deciokb aJajrs it'm emirejy aucoaaetic. A True Mat hf made Mind. Equally ut-malic ia utic C-l in algeoraric loflc. can muVMpJy a neiative fifrure toy a tmrabe.

nnd divide the results by amxhtT nesw ive to jle yuu a pcrfecT anief with the proper sLn r-uiMtant Memory. Just flu? ihe iwlrch io a constant rnuhtplier or elisor, and make rjte taowlcxj billjrvs or dcounHnw utki nn r.mv iiannity, valuables and buildings as well. To find out more, just ask your insurance broker or local Guardian Roval Exchange office. But do it soon. Coconut mats are no substitute for wall-to-wall Wiltons.

insurance companies toi'eplace losses completely. ''That 'wear and tear! condition frets them oil' the was atypical reply. Some, thought that settlements could lie as low as 25 To say we were taken ahack would he putting it 1111 Lliv. hspcci lly here are, with our Guardian Koyal Exchange Blue Plan Home Insurani v. Wu ih.

whTi furniture, carpets find hni.Ht h. appliances are cunt ei'iied, iiu i i.Iul tiun is made for And when you consider the state of most carpets after even four years' wear, we think you'll agree that's a pretty deal. Something else a Blue Plan Home Insurance policy does is automatically increase the sum assured by 5 every year. (And only asks the policy holder an extra 4 in premium in return.) That way, should the worst come to the worst, inflation shouldn't leave you short Our Blue Plan policies are full of thoughtful features like these. ifcVjl ONLY I S7 WEI6HS ONI chore Once you ie wtiat ihe C-l JO can do ever warn be without it.

Always Realty to Work. The dual AC DC chub uiomwIcoJ ly chaj-fr your C-tlt) vrttlle you have pluaired for tcandard AC operation. year juaj-antee CompilcW whh attractive irarryiris case. Sfr-vecitii faci'i-Me availabk Return whhln 10 dayi If not Mlifled T-or cam el refurrd You get a good deal from To UNI1A.NG RECORDINGS LTD lO.lH, IU PUTNEY BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON. S.VV.u.

Telephone Ql-870 eocloe etoac'te. for fi NAME I Guandian Royal Exchange Assurance Group UiuVtliVrl i AODRESS IRE lll'MilHUllliHI no London, EC3P SDN..