Ocean Island litigation records

A comprehensive set of papers relating to Ocean Island Nos 1 and 2. The first box contains a file of correspondence, 1980-1981, regarding the gift of the collection to the R.C.S.

In 1971 a writ (R 3670) was issued by Rotan Tito and others, leaders of the Banabans, against the Attorney-General and the British Phosphate Commissioners, claiming compensation for the use of Ocean Island, home of the Banabans, for the mining of phosphates. To save costs, a second writ (R 2013) was issued in 1973 naming the British Phosphate Commissioners among the defendants, and they were struck out of the first action. The case was heard in 1975-1976. As the hearings on the second writ were taken first, it became known as Ocean Island No. 1; R 3670 was Ocean Island No. 2. Judgement was given in November-December 1976.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Presented by Messrs Burchell & Rushton through Peter Westwood, May 1980.

Includes index.

MSS 961

MSS Addenda, vol. III.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

Mr Justice Megarry's judgement, which was published in the 'Weekly law reports', 1 April 1977, pp. 496-712, summarises the case and its legal complexities. This collection is described in 'Royal Commonwealth Society library notes', no. 240, December 1980, pp. 1-2.

This collection level description was created by RAS using information from the original typescript catalogue.

Various