oq UBNIL A J oe 402879 BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES. INC.. UPTON. L.L. N.Y. 11973 MEDICAL CPARTMENT Tetepsonz: (516) 345- 3577 July 27, 1976 Dr. James L. Liverman Assistant Administracor for Environment & Safety Division of Biolovical and Environmental Research Energy kKesearch and Davelopment Administration c Washington, D. 0. 20545 Dear Jim, On Juiy 26th a bir. Murakami, reporter for the Japanese newspaper Asahi in Washington, D. Cc. called about 2 story ne had received froa Jepan that some 66 of our Marshallese medical records had been copied and were in the hands of the leftist anti A-bomb sroup (Gensuikia) in Japan. It was his opinion thar they would get 2 doctor or doctors to review them (presumubl; in criticism of our examinations) to be used at the anniversary meetings of the Hiroshima bomb next month. I asked now they had gorten the records and he sugsested that it may have happencd in conjucctioa with the recent visit to Japan of the two Pongelap young mtn theugh he also thought Japanese from that group may have visited the Marshall Islands. I told him we had nothing to hide, but were disturbed about the unethical nature of obtaining the records. I also said that the records in the Marshall Islands were not complete but that we had much more extensive records on all individuals on our examination list at Brookhaven. I answered several questions for him concerning our findings and treatment of the Ronselap people and outlined our examination programs (annual surveys, semi-aanual hematoiogy checks and quarterly visits by our resident physician stationed at Kvajalein). He cksed why Japanese wer: barred from visiting the Islands. I told him the only incident I know of was the aborted visit of a Japanese "medical" team (mostly reporters) that had oceurred in 1971 due to lack cf proper eredentials. I told him we had had Drs. H. Peaki_and I. Kumatori from Japan visit us on fast surveys and sugzested he contact thes or th. Radiation Effects Research Foundation if he wished to get bona fide Japanese medical opinioas about our surveys. I am sending a cop; of this letter to Dr. LeRoy Allen at the Radietion Effects Research Foundation and request that he let us know about any Japanese publicity sshich may pertain to this matter. Sincerely, BEST COPY AVAILABLE Robert A. Conard, HD. RAC: im cc: Dr. LeRoy R. Allen Dr. Rond Or. Amite TON RE ~ ont - ry + evens