(Gaston X* «*4* ) 
Bat am than tha eclipse «i otecmd* Both British and Jbmrimm noted# 
as had tha writer, that hare m» a splendid lagoon ia which seaplanes muII 
settle, as nail as a flat ii* for land plants* British and Aaorieaa parties 
•ash laid elaimte tha atoll, aad treated a aaamsnt which displayed the flag 
of its aetioa* 
Prior to this the British had taken pains to reassert their jurisdiction 
ewer the Phoenix Islands* Official* had landed ea Gantts from B*X*8* Leith 
en August 8, 1838, and had posted a sign asserting sovereignty is the mm of 
Sing Sdhsard Till* On June 8, 1987, E*M«8* Wellington stepped and a eeeoad sign, 
eas sailed up ea the eeeentt pain, in the none of King George 71* Meanwhile, 
en April 8, 1987, the Phoenix Inlands had teen planed for safekeeping in ehnr-g® 
of the Gilbert and Sllioe Inlands Oniony, and its administrator had added his 
sign la October, 1987* 
On August 81, 1987# tee British sgents, with peesrfnl radio ifulposnt. 
were landed by H*M«8« Leith* The personal was relisted at ijriNwvals# 1st the 
representatives continued* They renewed applies at abeet sin noahli intervals 
from British warships# aad also firm passing Canadian-Anstralisa steamships* 
Despite all this British safeguarding# an Anarioan party# oonslating -if tmar 
part Hseaiian eolonista, a surveyor# aad tee radio son* lusted firm the haqr at 
followed an administrative order, signed,by President Franklin D. isosevelt# 
planing Gaataa aad Motefy und e r jurisdiction of te Dspartesnt of ttt Xsterie; 
It eas a friendly and bloodless invasion* hok party shared tho ether* s 
hospitality* They knee that the sottlsamrt lay ia Whshington and Lenten# This 
settXnasnb finally was teoohod in April# USD* Ganten and Badsrlmry mm plaeed 
under joint British and Aneriean control for 60 y®ars# aad "thereafter until 
such tins as it nay be modified or temiaated by mutual consent*^ Air 
of both nations have equal rights be suoh facilities as tine lskedi my afford* 
During 1988 aad UH ItasiiieHwi Airways laid out and developed on eriwnivi 
airport, deepened and cleared the lagoon, and initiated flights bt Ssw Sealant, 
