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of Bikini Atoll to determine whether radioactivity levels are
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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.
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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 .
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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
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question. There has been very substantial public interest in the
problem of the former Bikini people and in- the question of their
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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
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the Departments of Defense and State and the National Security Council.
In the circumstances, I should like to amend my request of December 1966
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‘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
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Affairs, Paul C. Warnke; Assistant Secretary of State Joseph J. Sisco,
and to Mr. Charles E. Johnson of the National Security Council.
yours,
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Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg
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