RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE 1965 continued are relocated from the hazard zone to Ebeye. A payment of $25 a month is provided for each of the 194 people residing on the islands, although more than 1,000 people have customary land rights in these islands. 1967 Bikini: United States Government agencies begin coneidering the possibility of the Bikini people returning to their home atoll. Bikini: An AEC study states of Bikini: "Well water could be used safely by the natives upon their retum to Bikini.. ost. ipePY 4 a ‘Ng 1 Ai e es h Ev ay Te appears that radioactivity in drink- ing water may be ignored from a radio-~ wy, logical safety standpoin:." Djelang: After twenty years, the pro- blems of the displaced Enewetak people on Ujelang have mounted until the situation approaches a crisis. Field trip ships continue to be erratic in visits and materials for keeping sailing canoes operational are tadily needed. Co- pra production is low (only 1/3 of the 1952 level), as the trees are old and BIKINI IN 1946: A SELF-SUFFICIENT PEOPLE PRIOR TO THEIR RELOCATION BY THE NAVY IN 1946. Photo by Leonard Mason ap Kwajalein: With increasing military newly planted trees will not bear for five years or more. Althcugh cats have been brought in, rats are destroying the copra, and when supplies of rice and flour are exausted, the people eat the coconuts instead of making copra to sell. Ujelang: Housing built by the Navy in 1947 is severely deteriorated and there are no materials for repair or maintenance. While the housing supply is less, the population has grown to 285. activity at Kwajalein, emplevment of The large community council house and the copra warehouse blew down vears ago in a typhoon, and the sheet netal church and community center is rusting Marshallese increases to 663 peopie. The population on Ebeye rises to 3,500 people. away. 1966 Kwajalein: The Ebeye population grows 1,000 in a year to 4,500 people, living on che available 66 acres (the OCTOBER 20 Ujelang: A Trust Territory supply ship arrives at Ujelang to find the people with no copra to sell and no money to buy needed food and supplies. Almost all of the nearly 300 people board the ship, demanding to leave Ujelang for Majuro to protest to the government that they have no food Coast Guard station on the tin of Ebeye uses 12 acres). Kwajalein: An addendum to the 1964 MidCorridor Islands lease is negotiated, increasing subsistence payments to the 194 displaced people on Ebeve from $25 and are starving. to $40 a month. JUNE Kwajalein: With the new impact area for missiles in Kwajalein's lagoon, Lib Island, 50 miles south, is no longer in the impact zone. Its residents are re- turned home after five years on Ebeye. 17 Ataji Balos, 4 government official on board, after 7 hours of efforts to persuade the people to give up their plan, agrees to stay with them on Ujelang, saying "If you will die, I will die with you.” He calis for help by radio and promises (continued on page 19)