to the interests of the Administering Authority. Yet the basic information needed by the Committee must by necessity come from that very same source, Coupled with this are the contradictory natures of Micronesian and American interests embodied in the Trusteeship Agreement which are manifested in the daily operations of the Trust Territory Government. In short, the Committee, in carrying out the wishes of the elective legislature of Micronesia, has had to deal with an incident caused by the United States. In trying to investigate the matter, it has had to request information from U.S. agencies and departments. This situation was further exacerbated by the events which transpired in December, 1971, and January and March of 1972. The issue of the medical treatment of the Rongelapese and Utirikese had beome a “hot potato" politically which is discussed in the report). As a consequence, (a fact a somewhat highly charged emotional atmosphere has pervaded the Committee's work and investigations since its inception. This is clearly evidenced by the pointed absence of an enacting Signature on the law which created the Committee. The law and the Committee were passively allowed to come into existence through mechanisms of law, rather than with official approval of the Administering Authority. This apprehension about the Committee and its work has, in some quarters, been lessened as it has continued its work. The Committee has always taken the approach that its studies should be serious, well-considered, careful and conducted in a mature and professional manner. This has resulted in developing excellent rapport and cooperation with the executive branch of the Trust Territory Government, the same cannot be ‘said to hold true at certain other levels. although This has been evidenced at various times by several occurrences described below. First, the Committee was pleasantly surprised by the fortuitous appearance of Dr. Darling of the ABCC and Dr, while on Saipan. Steinfeld of the U.S. Public Health Service They appeared in a deus ex machina fashion as in Greek plays 254