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1978
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On. ‘the:sother. hand, . there is some indication that he
oS) gimplyeisnot:very:‘knowledgeable about the current
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>radtation-related programs. at Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap*
a andres Woxuehepresent’and future Claims which
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From my conversation with him I have no “doubt that.’eR
tchere.istwhat:I.take to bea very,serlous error in the" ne
waycheésLla*conceiving| of the issue. In my view,
the _
“United* States has. sole, direct and exclusive responSaibllity®(and:Liability) for the radiation related
:Injuries;,losses; problems: and long term needs of these
“‘peopletsyl: do not: believe that it ta legally or morally
permissible‘for: the United States to impose that re_-. ,Sponsibility:-upon the future Government of the Marshall
“ortoIs lands23rThe: United’States: cannot by that means attempt —
:tocescape: the legal; consequences of its conduct as
administering: authority of the Trusteeship.
I am not’
“at. all*sure that'Mr. Rosenblatt agrees with me, but I
am hopeful. that’ he. can be persuaded.
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For. our part; ‘we will continue to look directly to
the United States Government and its various agencies
on these-matters, not to the Marshall. Island Political
Status. Commission...
Rosenblatt,
As I said in my letter to Mr.
it seems to us,
that settlement of all
outstanding claims and provisions for all future
programs.related to the nuclear testing activity of the,
United: States, must be worked out directly between the ‘,
particular individuals and groups involved, on the one
hand, :and,the United. States Government on the other,
NO,
‘ The- ‘COBL*OF: such* settlements and programs simply cannot
aR
be charged against.the future total United States'
Oo
financial. ‘assistance for the Marshall Islands government, | \ |
which.is not in‘ any way responsible for causing the
wo
damage in the first place.
Moreover, I have no in-,
dication that Mr. Rosenblatt's portfolio includes
a
Seen
authority to represent the United States Government in *%"::
the settlement of our client's claims arising out of
**"
the nuclear testing program.
I enclose a copy of Ambassador Rosenblatt's
November 13,
1978 letter to Ms. Nancy Snyder, Deputy
Administrator for Family and Nutrition Programs of the
Department of Agriculture, The view expressed there is
one of the principal causes of my concern.
Also enclosed is a copy of my letter to Mr. Jonathan M, Weisgall,
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