Palau was the last trusteeship, not only of the United States but the last trusteeship in the world. For 25 years the United States tried to negotiate an agreement - a "compact" - with Palau. Under this compact, Palau would gain its independence as a Freely Associated State and a large amount of money, $500 million, while the US obtained certain military base rights and passage of nuclear power ships and submarines. The compact took on enormous symbolic importance throughout the world because of a provision in the Palau Constitution that Palau could not grant the US nuclear rights without the approval of 75% of the people of Palau.