QO Ss GO eo We believe it is importance that @ taken to besin the prograia at an early date. We owe th of Bikini nothing less; we owe the American people who have assumed responsibility for the Trust Territory nothing less. MUowever, although che involved asencices of the Federal Government and the Trus¢ Territory have been for some time working toward the ultimate return of the Bikini people, both the timing of the determination that return was possible, and the subsequent announcement by che President were such that it has not hitherto becn possible to include funds for Bikini in any agency's 1969 or 1970 budget program. I would adé one further comment with respect to tha estimated costs of re-settlement. As you will note in the enclosed paper, tnere nas been an absolute loss of land ia this land-poor area. Buildings caa be rebuilt, crops can be xr colaaced, duc the land resource cannot be restored. During the Ause st visit to Bikini, the representatives of che people becane aware of the loss of this resource. Whether they ess for compensation for such loss we cannot at tais time say. 4 tO point out that the enclosed re-settlement progran Znciude any item for such compensation, if loss or damage re presented by the Bikxinians, or if payments are otherwise G Lon you to tnat la , © believe the re-scattlement program sh d continue to be moved t its main features should forward with all possible dispcat b a foxe the Congrass soon after t convenes. We look forward enc. i am sending copies of this tecter anc its enclosures to the Cnaixman of tne Atomic Energy Commission and che Secretary of Defense. Repvresentatives os both agencies are iznrormally aware of our proposed program ang the funding requirement which arises from it. Sincerely yours, ——, = . —— Devi S Wah, As Crciw., Secretary of the Interior Fon. Charles J. Zwick Director: Bureau of the Budget Wasnington, D.C. 20503 eaciosures .