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-’ UNITED STATES
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
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WASHINGTON, D.c. 2024NIQUE Doce:
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Dear Mr. Chairman:
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DEC Q 1966
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In 196 the people of Bikini Atoll in the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands were removed from their home islands in order to
permit the United States to use the atoll for test purposes, The
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Bikini people were moved initially to Rongerik Atoll and subse-
quently were relocated on the island of Kili in the southern
Marshalls,
The United States did not acquire title to Bikini
Atoll; the arrangement with the Bikinians was one of indefinite
use rights, with the atoll returning to them at such time as
United States requirements for the islands should come to an end.
United States nuclear and thermonuclear testing in the Mershalls,
and the movement of the Bikini and Eniwetok people from their
islands, were viewed with great concern by the people of the Trust
Territory. The Bikini people in particular have requested on nun-
erous occasions to be returned to their home. The Trust Territory
government has explaingd the hazards of living on Bikini and of
IeThis is most unfortunate, In the near future it is likely that
there will be held a plebiscite to permit the people of the
Territory to make a decision as to their political future,
Micronesians overwhelmingly choose to be affiliated permanently
with the United States, Consequently, we are very much concerned
lest the plight of the Bikini people unduly influence the Micronesians' choice.
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The population pressures on Kili, where the Bikinians now live,
and the difficulties of maintaining a satisfactory level of
living there are such that the High Commissioner of the Trust
Territory believes that it may soon be necessary once asain to
“relocate the-Bikini people.
Kili has been a most unsatisfactory
=ail}' home, The island is surrounded by a fringing reef.
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DEPARTMENT OMMEIERGY DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW,
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1. CLAS“HICATION RETAIN
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1ST REVIEWER-DATEO aT f] DETERMINATION [CIRCLE NU
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lagoon and for mich of the year it is difficult if not impossible
to land on the island,
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2ND REVIEWS
It
"is of the utmost importance to our national interest that the
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DEPARTMENTOF ENERGY DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW
DETERMINATION (CIRCLE NUMBER(S)}
CATION RETAINED
2. CLASSI CATION CHANGED TO:
3. CONTA WS NO DOE CLASSIFIED tO
NATE WITH:
CATION CANCELLED
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using the resources of the atoll and its adjacent water areas,
but the presence of Americans living in former test areas has
made it difficult for many Micronesians to understand why the
Bikini people cannot live safely in the same areas, The entire
matter continues to place the United States in an unfavorable
light throughout the Territory.
J
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GHTETYS
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