They show the US used non-government go-betweens to inform Nauru it could be rewarded with up to $250 million in ecological aid over 10 years, new cost-free diplomatic missions in Beijing and Washington, and the refinancing of $3 million debt for the island's grounded airline. Nauru also was told of potential funding for new schools, a state-of-the-art phone system and even new diets for Nauru's 11,000 citizens.
The offers – although not formally made by the US Government – were sufficient to convince Nauru that it would be handsomely rewarded if it cleaned up its banking sector.
Now some Nauran leaders are concerned the US may not come through on promises they believed were set in stone.
Despite the island state quietly passing laws late last week to end offshore banking, the US State Department said this week it was "not currently developing" any package of financial assistance for Nauru.
However, a State Department spokesman welcomed Nauru's decision to abolish offshore banking, which he said "removes a significant vulnerability to exploitation of Nauru by transnational organised criminals, as well as terrorists".
