Ben ; ~ ¥ s - * a - se ee ee Se —_— . > oa i — . copy No. __/_of_&@- UNITED STATES . . ‘DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Series. 2 r uae : -_ see . tit 2 peer oes ae eng | 4 UN 26:1968 R. eet wea: ~ 4 of Bikini Atoll to determine whether radioactivity levels are a such that the former inhabjtants might be returned. At that time I stated that if return seems feasible from the standpoint of health hazards, I would request the Department of Defense to . consider whether there is a continuing military requirement for Bikini. oo ~: EVIEW-DALex ee rf a > a Dy . - PACH a ty a sp ~ 2 Dear Chairman Seaborg: This is in reference to my letter of December 7, 1966, in which I requested the Atomic Energy Commission to undertake @ survey . I a . During the time since I wrote that letter and since the AEC made its field survey of the atoll in April 1967, several events have transpired to complicate the consideration of the entire Bikini g rE < 2/3 MUTE §pba URY Q e NEO BRALREDLS ze CAN fo t CE: ub CANE fon) ry AF he CF“1 wATE Pape a le? CG rn C - Bee i fe 4 ets otter eee, : ln © #ifs Yous meh : age e . Pot no ; ~= aie etme ep “ he . wats TETTAS sie " 5 é ve . a wes yl o fie ivi Bit Lb *° py ae we Teyag dy Leh, - ee ae ded BM ERPSOLAS IA Tre vrawen were apipy(date ‘EMEGEE. rarej * Ge CLASSHIED drG WASHINGTON,D.C. 20240 CU, 404175 ‘OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY UE DOCUTEH | ft This sooh wnt consists of_./._pages question. There has been very substantial public interest in the problem of the former Bikini people and in- the question of their 1 -! ee G2 2 Becmese | S 26 Bo MS2 SESS 5520 ee Sess g[2--OR¥s z\yo return,: I have requested the Department of Defense to look into its military requirements on an urgent basis and that Department assures me that it has given the project a high priority. I under- stand that the study undertaken by your agency is now virtually complete and that it will indicate that in general there is no health hazard which cannot be overcome by steps recommended in the proposedreport. The Department of the Interior has the basic responsibility for the welfare and development of the people of the Trust Territory including, of course, the former Bikini people. Our responsibility and concern for this particular group of people and their interest in returning to Bikini, however, impinges upon the interests and responsibilities of x the Departments of Defense and State and the National Security Council. In the circumstances, I should like to amend my request of December 1966 g i . ‘to ask that, at the same time you complete your review of the study and -the resulting report and send copies of the report to me, you also send copies to Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security — Affairs, Paul C. Warnke; Assistant Secretary of State Joseph J. Sisco, and to Mr. Charles E. Johnson of the National Security Council. yours, Ws feo"5 és: shyefthe saterior - sa 7a > 5 ‘ioe , De Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg Chairman a: Atomic Energy Commission ‘Washington, D.C. 20545 : GG SV — J a 76L17 . . aLVSAKIBOOIOG] “LT