DRAFT
1
MARSHALL ISLANDS CHRONOLOGY
Jan - Feb 44
ADMINISTRATION
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Marshall Islands, administered by Japan since the end of World War|,fall
to the United States military forces during the Pacific war.’
2 Mar 44
AGREEMENT
The government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific islands (T.T.) conveys to
the U. S. governmentthe exclusive right to the use and occupancy of Enewetak Atoll
for an indefinite period of time for “the sum of ten dollars." (This 1944 date is used
in this chronology
because the date probably refers to the first agreement negotiated
between a Marshall Islands leader and a U.S. representative, probably military. The
first paragraph of this document identifies the date of the agreement as that of 2
March 1944, but this particular document was drawn uplater, probably in 1957. The
term "Trust Territory," was not used in 1944 for the Marshall Islands and the signers
were Officials in 1957, not 1944. Subsequent language and signers of the document
also indicate the agreement was written later. This agreement was recorded in the
Marshall Islands District Record Book 1, pp. 5, 6, and 7, on June 20, 1957.)’
Jan 46
WEAPONTESTING
Pacific.
Feb 46
U.S.officials select Bikini Atoll for the first U.S. nuclear weapon tests in the
AGREEMENT:
RELOCATION
_ The military governor of the Marshall Islands obtains the consent of a Bikini
chief to relocate‘his people so that Bikini can be used for nuclear weapontests.‘
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7 Mar 46
RELOCATICN
The U.S. Navy evacuates Bikini Atoll inhabitants to Rongerik Atoll.°
May 46
RELOCATION
Residents of Enewetak are moved to Meck Island in Kwajalein Atoll, and the
Rongelap and Wotho people are evacuated to Lae Atoll for the duration of the Bikini
tests.
1 and 25 Jul 46
WEAPONTESTING
The United States detonates two nuclear weapons at Bikini in Operation
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