The island was discovered by Capt. Fearn in 1798, annexed by Germany in Oct. 1888, and surrendered to Australian forces in 1914. It was administered under a mandate, effective from 17 Dec. 1920, conferred on the British Empire and approved by the League of Nations until 1 Nov. 1947, when the UN General Assembly approved a trusteeship agreement with the governments of Australia, New Zealand and the UK as joint administering authority. Independence was gained in 1968.