e act. 0 ; ANNEX TO APPENDIX"BY 0 ny 77s : . : Loa . . elt ey ae Ye, “4 s fy ps - Department”‘of the ‘Navy Tre Office of the Chief of Naval bperations _ Washington 25, D. CG. - ae L fee a a ee Sosa wo November,hy - In ‘reply. refe Doo ST Ope5B/£1ES Cee Te Dear General Starbind: : - a my we ot _ Ser 0503P21°.. vs - So This ‘ts in reference to your ‘letter of 1‘November 19 wherein you request necessary fundsbe’made avatlable to C Seven for the purpose of reimbursing the. Atomic Energy Com mission contractor for the’ cost involved. in. gonstruction. £ $e Rongelap People on, their home islands .',* : . The suggestion“that the’‘Navy is’‘tn“any vay. Tesponsib for funding the costs involved in the return‘of “the Marsha Islanders to their home islands indicates a misunderstandt must exist; At no time has there been any thought that th costs of the repatriation and restoration of .the, islanders would be a Navy responsibility: In™ consequence,” no. budget or other funding has been contemplated and funds” forthis” purpose do not exist. The Navy co~operated by every feasi’ means in the emergency removal of the islanders during the 1954 tests and for their subsequent relocation, but no Nav responsibility attaches for the “sequence of ‘events which m these measures necessary. ha me, ~. wots ‘Fo= tells “In this ‘connection, Commander in Chier ‘pacific:“state in his letter serial 0283 of 27 June 1956 that-"It is undé stood that no Navy funds other than for normal support’ sho be expended for this operation without CNO approval.- -It noted that Commander Joint Task Force Seven has been reaque to budget for the return of the inhabitants and rehabilita: of their home island." This agreement was acknowledgedan concurred in by your letter of 8 August 1956. -° It has neve been requested, agreed or implied that the Navy would fund construction by the AEC contractor, No appropriation has sought or obtained for this purpose by the Navy and conseq no Navy funds are available. In view of the foregoing it is suggested that you ob the funds for reimbursement of your contractor fron other which may be available to you. . ee Sincerely YOUrS5 . pelt G: he Russell...igeregs 3 = Deputy. Chief of Naval Op trations > ry are Gaintsteation)se. Brigadier Ceneral‘alfred D. Starbird, USA} Director of Military Application« _ Atomic Fnergy Commission oes eo Washington 25, D.C, -18 - . <2 f4 , Annex to hopengix "BM