An unofficial referendum on integration of

Northern Marianas The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.Lin, Tom C.W.Ameri ...

with

Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

was held in

Saipan Saipan () is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated Territories of the United States, territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 estimates by the United States Cens ...

in June 1958.Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), 1958: Integration with Guam
Direct Democracy Though the proposal was approved by nearly 64% of voters and the Guam Legislature adopted Resolution No. 367 requesting the

US Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

to integrate the governments, the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

did not integrate the islands.

Background

had been administratively separated from

since 1898, when the latter had come under American control. Saipan also came under American control in 1947. In 1957, the Popular Party had victories in Guam and

. An unofficial poll on reunification was conducted, with 63.8% of Saipan's voters in favor of integration.

Results

Aftermath

After the poll, Resolution No. 367 was passed by the Guam Legislature, asking the

to integrate the Northern Marianas's government into Guam's. The Guam Legislature met with the Saipan Municipal Congress in early September 1959, and later that month, the Saipan Congress adopted Resolution No. 7, asking the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

to integrate the two governments. The requests were not implemented. Later referendums were held in

1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...

, and 1969.

References

{{Northern Mariana Islands elections

1958 in the Northern Mariana Islands 1958 Administrative division referendums Sovereignty referendums Border polls