em at ta ite ‘ (4) That when the councils were ready to discuss the Community. project they should notify the District Administrator. He would in turn notify the High Commissioner's Office who would see that the necessary support personnel are provided. The Assistant Attorney General informs me that both on Rongelap and Utirik the councils wanted some time with which to discuss the Community purpose payment with the people before asking for assistance. Additionally, the councils have each asked that the moneys, when received by the High Commissioner, be deposited in an interest bearing account in the name of the people of the individual atolls. With regard to the people of Bikini, it seems premature at this time to consider any community project in view of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Programs now being proposed. “You have mentioned that an interpretation could be made so that the $100,000 could be used for a community project on Kili Island. I will meet with the Bikini council to discuss this point. Upon his return to Saipan, I spoke at length with the Assistant Attorney General who made the preliminary survey in the Marshall Islands. He is of the opinion that due to difficulties found within the language of the act, we cannot properly administer payment until we receive clarification or the act is amended. In order of their importance I submit ta you che following: 104(c) Subsection (c) RELEASE CLAUSE of the act provides as follows: "A payment made under the provisions of this sect.ton shall be in full settlement and discharge of all . a 1 un The Attorney General's Office has advised me that any claimant receiving payment under the terms of the act, even if he did not sign a release form, would be releasing the Government as the act itself provides a release by operation of law. Thus, for example, if a Utirikese claimant me ghee time te claims against the United States arising out of the thermonuclear detonation on March 1, 1954." oo ~ at | } . ec wee we . a. \ ns i . from,making claim for compensation if he should become ill as a result of the exposure. Great concern was expressed by the possible recipients in that they did not want to jeopardize possible fucure payments by accepting nominal payments at this time. . received a $1,000 payment for being exposed, he would later be precluded teeer pet SECTION WPae — (1)