atoll on Mareh 6, 1946. square miles, has a Rongerik has a dry land area of 0.65 scattered over approximately 17 isiands. lagoon area of $5.38 square miles. than the 2.32-square-mile land area and This It is much smaller 229.40-square-mile lagoon area of Bikini, with its 36 islands The attempt to settle at Rongerik was a failure, due to the insufficient natural resources. allegedly A Board of Investigation convened by the Navy on June ?, 1947, recommended that the displaced Bikinians be moved again. The Bikinians through their leader "King" Juda, as he was erroneously christened by romantically minded newsmen, accom- panied by three leaders (alab) of Bikind, inspected Rongerik, Kili, Ujilang, Wotto and Ujae to try to find a suitable place in which to relocate interested their people. in getting back The Bikini people were to their ancestral home as rapidly as possible and had allegedly regarded tne past and future resettlements as only temporary. Tne period from June 2, in inspecting these August 26, resettlement areas. On the following letter to the American authoritics: (translation): "To the Office at Kwajalein: Gentlemen: We the council have held to find the best place to go to. a meeting We nave been to some other places to inspect und have conSidered them. In moving we find it quite a problem. The place we all agreed to stay on is Rongerik Atoll. £57 = = it CaF s/fde, Pac Council" xo sent possible to September 1, 1947, was 1947 the council of the ex-Bikini people on Rongerik wit spent 1947,