a a a ee rm ee ~ ee -2- a Se GRY specificallyOFro‘interms of our problems ae I mention this eh Be tr on the. return of Eniwetok; and our desire to make as rapid progress as possible in the clean-up and the return of the atoll by the target date, the end of 1973. For your information, too, the only public statement -- official statement -- we have made on Eniwetok was the basic joint statement by Ambassador Haydn Williams and High Commissioner Edward E. Johnston announcing the decision of DOD to return the atoll at the end of 1973. As you know this was put out on April 18, 1972 in Saipan and the principle paragraphs here are as follows: "I am therefore authorized to announce that the U.S. Government is prepared to release legally the antire atoll to the Trust Territory Government at the end of 1973, subject to retention of some minor residual rights. "Prior to the actual resettlement of the atoll, it will be necessary to carry out the same type of survey, clean-up and rehabilitation procedures that have been utilized for Bikini Atoll. As in Bikini, the schedule for resettlement will depend on the results of the Survey and the pace of the rehabilitation program, will be drawn up as soon as practicable. This schedule , "As an initial step the United States plans to commence the survey of the atoll probably late this summer. The clean-up and rehabilitation of the three islands -- Parry, Japtan and Aniyaanii -- in the southeastern part of the atoll, will receive first priority. "The Trust Territory Government looks forward to working with the people of Eniwetok on the actual planning of the rehabilitation and return of the atoll." This is the public statement which sets the framework for the return of Eniwetok, I think all of us who have had or do have an interest at one time or another in Eniwetok have been feeling that we needed to get together to at least sort out the problems and try to make sure we are all on the same wave length as we move forward. - MEPcas, ehPhebe ay“a 4 ar ce . 3105/722 sf por? t ad a