Ais 7O —— wae “ ¢ a FOLe: © — Oct, 12, 1971 ( Beookhaven har Lae) rds Uhnknord dD. _ Lo 0 aL(972 Vv. OP, Bond M.D., Associate Director, Life Sciences @. P. Cronkite, , M.D. Congressman Balos’ Questions of Dr. Conard This ts a follow-up of cur brief discussion of this on 7 October, I have serious reservations as to whether the 4 October letter answering these questions should be sent out on Brookhaven National Laboratory stationery and whether Dr. Conard should be che signer of the letter, I have nothin: but confidence and admiration for the excellent job that Dr, Conard as done in leading the study of the Marshallese, The problems are now becoming not medical or scientific but international volitics, I personally believe and am stating for tha record that these questions should be answered by someone witnin the Government, obviously in consultation with Dr, Conard, The entire problem, I believe, is being blown up into one of political controversy that will be used against the United States and its management of the Trust Terrétory, and in particular, the Marshallese who were exposed to fallout radiation, In «ay opinion, this entire subject is rapidly becoming an affair of State; if it 1s not already such, Since dollars, power volitics within the Trust Territory, and political motives are behind Congressman alos’ questions, I believe it is inappropriate for these to be answered by Dr, Conard alone, I have serfous misgivings about the manner in which this issue is being handled and would be much happier if the questions were directed to Washington and answered by them in collabebation with Dr, Conard. mb cc: Dr, Conard , ' BEST COPYAVAILABLE