Chapter Four Ronperth tid RK wayalern biZl00S ind the four Brhinians were returned co Ronpenk to consult wath heir fellows and decide Wpon their firse anal second chotees fora new home, ‘The paramount chief was consuted, and he respond :d with a document offering the Bikinians land at cither pie or Wotheo bods of which were in his domam. On fuly 25, che dika mans made a written reply to the military government: To the Office at K wajalean Gsentleman: have 4 bovasen the place where lw Bt to live on anil won. the island of Ebbetyu and Enelamoy (Ujac). These we have all aprced UPON, But new t have been thinking, since these move will be the lase move and the place we po to will be our home forever and eves therefore we wish to be removed to an atoll where there ace no other people. These is what we ask of you but we will do whatever you'll say (Ibid.). During the same month, the Marshalls and other ishands of the former League of Nations Japanese Mandate became che Unit ed States Trust Territory of the Pacihie fslands within the frame work of the United Nations Trusteeship Council The miliary povernment was ended, but as an taterim measure, the navy was delegated the responsibility for che new civil administration ual authority was transferred to a civilian agency. With the creation of the Trust Territory, however, the welfare of the ishinders be came subject to the scrutiny of international representatives of the Trusteeship Council, and the resettlement of the Bikinians was po lonper a matter that could be handled discreetly by ayen cies. of che United Scates government (Mason 1954551 4). Concurrent with these events, dhe situation at Ronpercth bor ther decenioraced. A medical officer whe accom panicd al July field trip co the atoll reported that che Bikinis were “veably suffering from malnuceition” (Ibid). The council’s anbivalent response had not helped solve the problem, and in another at tempt to convince the Bikinians thac a recur home was impos: square miles; its lagoun covers 36,6 square. miles. Io the latter pare of the 1940s, its population was between thirty to furty islanders (Bryan 19721 142 143; Mason 1954: 310), Bikii ealy. Augen wath.AS af ban1 The y spen t wast, neweal PPV beth theabtys awalinion aes Isthation's idea backfired. Bikinis was occupied by a team of set cHtists involved tothe Bikini Resu rvey, #twomonth boup iavese bation of the effects of the atomic tests . The presence a the h searchers . From the Council of Rongerik I stble and that i was nec eosiry foom ake a decision about chem da ture, the povermor of the Marshall s Mew oto Bekine with fused anil me Sate Uhiee Bikintians who had accommpantiod: hint on the eat suppested co the Bikinians that hun ny could live on the Acoll without harm. Further, more chan a your had ela seca staee the nucheat tests, and the lapoo iu’s marine fauna ap ested healthy and abundane. Unexploited trees were laden with bo us mits, and the only change che isla nders “.. professed to mottee was the presente ofa ew plane, Papaya, the secals of which hh. have been introduc ed during Cros sroads" (tines 1902-04) ” Hint Aupust, the Board took Juda and the same Hite mea to Ujelang. ‘the atoll is located in Horthern Ralik (see Map | } Pepe FO). Te had been a commercially operated copia ant ition before World War Hand had been terstideabrceal fers seven ' : : : Phe ikanians thouphe it “nice” and were returned to Konperk with their observations. On August 26, the peaple in Miva a administration: meee eee Gentlemen, ws the council have held a meet ing to find the best place ta Be | . have: been to some other places tu Inspe i ct and have consid + . cree’ hem In movi. ng fo. we find it quite a problem. The place we alt , agreed to stay on is Rongerik Atoll Rec Bou...” 1947), b ol (Records of Procecdings ofa The civilian member of the Board was replaced by another an agriculturalist, who conducted a survey of Ronperih. Kili Ui, and Ujelang. tis report substant iated the Bikinians lepurts, Neo n erik's resources had grown so low chat the islanders had be vin ur cutting down young palms to eat the heart, a progressively de structive procedure which could only reduce future harvests rH agriculeural ist described the islanders as a defeated , frustrated " poverty-stricken people who thought of home only as Bikini “In his opinion, theie departure from Rongerik had already been tun long delayed. tle judged Ujelang's resources as adequate and ree ‘J