Mar ty 19 29°7y COLLECTION soxne, 22h: Doe/W V 7 tg PA Bid= HHEO FOLDER CL 3 _. OM 405276 beGe-Les -serosrom DOE[pits De COntedD Zane (2f L924 LeSz-2e¢ Neo sou Bia Aidey PATUZYUW RURVAAF 8075 0731846-UUUU=-RHEGNVO RHEGAAA. ZNR UUUUU P L41841Z MAR 74 FM R RAY USAEC/PASO HONOLULU HAW TO RHEGNVO/M E GATES USAEC/NV LAS. VEGAS NEV INFO RHEGAAA/J L LIVERMAN/DBER/USAEC/HQ WASHINGTON DC ROEGARA/GEN GRAVES /DMA/USAEC /HQ@ WASHINGSTON DC A BT UNCLAS/N O N W D/IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WEDNESDAY WITH BOB LAW, IRUST TERRITORY LIAISON OFFICE HONOLULU I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE RUMORS HERE APPROXIMATE QUOTE THAT THE AEC MAY BE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT ENEWETAK ATOLL AND MAY NOT LET THE PEOPLE RETURN AFTER ALL UNQUOTE. LAW SAID HE HAD HEARD THIS PROSPECT SUGGESTED MORE THAN ONCE BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY SOURCES, HE VENTURED OPINION THAT THE RUMOR WAS CAUSED BY RECENT MICRONESIAN PRESS ATTENTION TO TAMPLIN AND OTHERS (WHO QUESTION BIXINI SAFETY AND ARE KEEPING ALIVE PALOMARES, RONGELAP, ETC. - THESE WORDS MINE). I TOLD LAW, FIRST, THAT THE AEC IS IN NO POSITION TO LET = OR NOT LET - PEOPLE RETURN TO ENEWETAK. THAT DECISION IS AT LEAST STRONGLY IMPLIED AND PROBABLY FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES LZSZ-L0S 189 “WOU eta Aiday PAGE 2 RUHVAAF8075 UNCLAS FIRM NATIONAL POLICY AS A RESULT OF THE APRIL 72 ANNOUNCEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. SECOND, I ADVISED HIM THAT I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE FOR HIM IF THE OPPORTNITY AGAIN AROSE TO RESPOND STATING THAT HE IS AWARE THAT THE COMMISSION STAFF IS RIGHT NOW DILIGENTLY WORKING AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONS TO FACILITATE THE EARLY AND SAFE RESETTLEMENT OF THE ATOLL. THIS FURTHER REINFORCES MY CONVICTION THAT WE MUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TELL PEOPLE CANDIDLY WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE AND HOW WE EXPECT TO PROVIDE FOR THIER PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING. I AGAIN URGE THE PROMPT RELEASE OF THE SURVEY REPORT AS EVIDENCE OF BOTH PROGRESS AND GOOD FAITH. HIGH COMMISSIONER JOHNSTON IS DUE IN HONOLULU O/A MARK 18 ENROUTE TO WASHINGTON O/A MAR 23 FOR PERHAPS 2 = 3 WEEKS. IF WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BRIEF HIM HERE I URGE THAT HE BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF ALL AVAILABLE FACTS AND RATIONALE IN WASHINGTON. END MSG. OP-127 BT #8075 NNNN us al’ 1p w L@Sz-26¢ 189 :wou ela Aiday egram RGA GlobalTelegram RGA GlobaliTelegram té548 Global Telegram PRIVAT