faba’Kaba Chattman ': December, 21, Page 20° weBS . - hoody Laks wo tanwt “a 1978 ae On. ‘the:sother. hand, . there is some indication that he oS) gimplyeisnot:very:‘knowledgeable about the current reas >radtation-related programs. at Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap* a andres Woxuehepresent’and future Claims which [eeaeetaRSess % Ee ESRTE SS a 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. wa Tt ey Bale or 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, sonors4 es