in Eixini. This situation should be kept in mind in planning for any future negotiations corcerning Bikini .4 Bikini Atoll Todayand Its Economic Potential I will not so into details of the condition of Bikini today. These nave been covered in my daily log and in Agriculturist James Hiyane's final report of the Bikini Survey. A few salient points should be made here however. The coconut trees and other food-bearing trees and plants have been almost completely destroyed. Most of the islands have become overgrown with vegetation. The potential agricultural areas will have to be cleared and completely replanted. This wil? be a formidable task, "which will extend over 4 long period of time. outlined a preposed program to accomplish this. Mr. Hiyane has I concur witn Hiyane but think the scale of the program should be greater. Al] available areas of the atoll should be cleared and planted as quickly as possible. This will hasten the relocation of the exiled Bikinians on their home atoll and in the long run will be more cconomical. The large islands of Bikini, Eneu, and Nam have the greatest economic potential. They were the main copra-producin islands, and the main sources of vegetable foods in the past. Tne smaller islands toward the southwest, such as Aer$k8j and Enedrik, were a1S0 valuable sources of copra and food plants Marshall Tsiands, October 1952, for more detailed information. 228 Blox | FO34Z hon _ Es 5 » See Tobin, J.A., The Bikini People, Past and Present, Majuro,a3 i 4 ix I to sure 1