in Bikini.
This situation should be kept in mind in planning
for any future negotiations concerning Bikini.4
Bikini Atoll Today and Its Economic Potential
I will not go into details of the condition of Bikini
today.
These have been covered in my daily log and in
Agriculturist James Hiyane's final report of the Bikini Survey.
A few salient points should be made here however.
The coconut trees and other food-bearing trees and plants
have been almost completely destroyed.
Most of the islands
have become overgrown with vegetation.
The potential agricultural areas will have to be cleared
and completely replanted.
This will be a formidable task,
which will extend over a long period of
time.
outlined a preposed program to accomplish this.
Mr. Hiyane has
I concur with
Hiyane but think the scale of the program should be greater.
All available areas of the atoll should be cleared and planted
as quickly as possible.
This will hasten the relocation of
the exiled Bilkinians on their home atoll and in the long run
will be more economical.
The large islands of Bikini,
greatest economic potential.
Eneu,
and Nam have the
They were the main copra-producing
isiands, and the main sources of vegetable foods in the past.
The smaller islands toward the southwest, such as Aer&k8j and
Enedrik, were also valuable sources of copra and food plants in
4 See Tobin, J.A., The Bikini People, Past and Present, Majuro,
Marshall Islands, October 1952, for more detailed information.
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