' Nantes lille oh costhetenans wipinldn wdiskthladstig SA. tesea ankle te cee me ee ee ee PIO SUBJECT: ; Public Affairs Guidance Regarding Bikini Atoll (u) . : * erty ala tote! pte a Ee : i: aa a eeae ‘ . ec El we ata te allddk intoVolRa ; ot Arten . Soomtabbebacte “Lte lLaceheseelt idaarti ectednae! 3. Public Affairs Situntion: A Departmont of the Interior news releaso (reforence 1,d,) doseribes tho gonoral nature, history, responsibilitics and intentions of the project to rohabilitate Bikini and return the atives to the atoll, The October 18 issue of Life magazine carried an illustrated article on the subject, U., S, television had feature coverage in December 1968, and the two major Honolulu newspapers have had stories on the project, the most recent being in the 29 January Honolulu Star-Bulletin under a Saipan dateline, moved by the Micronesian News Service, which stated that the project had begun. Department of the Interior on the subject, Commencement of work appcars likely to arouse further press interest. Holmes and Narver, the enginecring contractors, have begun hiring in Honolulu and on the U, 5S, West Coast. Equipment from the West Coast commenced movement on 31 January in USS BELLE GROVE, and additional personnel and equipment from Hawaii and Johnston Island sailed on 12 February, The advance party of about 39 mon with their equipment will land on Bikini about February 18. (There will be no air access until this party can prepare the airstrip.) 4. Discussion: a. With the above background emerging, discussions of means of handling public affairs matters have taken place in Washington and Honolulu. Mr, Charles Boatner, Director of Public Affairs for the Department of the Interior, is understood informally to favor open public access to the project, subject, of course, to limitations imposed by the remoteness of the atoll and the austere conditions under which the work will be done, and also subject to necessary protection of any aspects which might be considered sensitive. CINCPAC PAO, in conference with DASA PIO in Honolulu February 4, expressed support for a Bikini public affairs program that would inform Micronesia and the world of U. S, actions in behalf of Bikinians. In the latter connection the gencral plans for a Micronesian plebescite are pertinent, as are JCS Memorandun to Secretary of Defense (JCSM 441-68 of 11 July 68) and Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum dated 31 July 68, in reply, which concern the importance of DOD support of measures to generate favorable Micronesian response when such a plebescite occurs, Rihet ort ade, rn cl0 0 hla ba b, Additional factors will bear upon the public affairs situation once the advance party has landed, Permission to visit the project during the AEC/DOD phase will be retained by Commander Joint Task Force 8, subject further to CINCPAC area clearance, continue to be difficult at best. Access to Bikini will Capability to support visitors will | Fre¥- 722¢- 0 20F 2 i ‘ |+ ~ | NBC has expressed interest in making a documentary of the project, and BBC has approached eae oe mem ee ee es eg ee ec ee Keees