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AOALOT
POSSIBLE RITURN OF BIKINI NATIVES
April 7, 1952
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Letter to Mr. Dean fror James P,. Davis, Director Office
of Territories, Department of Interior
Enclosed a letter to Davis from McConnell, Deputy High
Commissioner, Pacific Trust Territories pointing out
the need for aomething to be done for the Bikini natives
now living on Kili. Fishing is poor, poor harbor
facilities and general conditions are poor.
asks:
l.
The enclosure
Can natives be returned to Bikin{?
Would AEC previde some money to buy another
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island for the natives.
Davis asks if early conference can be set up.
(Mr. Dean asked Mr. Boyer to have Biolory & Medicine -
Divisior of Military Application get together a position
for him to take during the meeting.)
AILAB
BEST COPY AV
LE
April 9, 1952
April 17, 1962
Memorandum to Mr. Dean from Mr, Boyer
Recommends that no assurance be given that natives can
ever return to Bikini because:
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AFC may need Bikini if Eniwetok goes up with M.
Or contamination may be so bad we cannot use
Eniwetok for a long time.
Biology & Medicine states no radioactive hazards at
Bikini that would harm natives if they were returned,
but Mr. Boyer recoumends that this information should
not be volunteered since there is some doubt on the
basis which AEC would want to prevent return of the
natives,
Mr. Boyer states AFC has no money to buy
another island for the natives or to compensate them
for Bikini. Last sentence states that AEC would be
glad to testify thet Bikini is not available to the
natives.
Memorandum to Mr. Boyer fror Mr. Dean
States thet he was visited b Thomes, Davis and Sady to
discuss the matter.
Mr. Dean told them that we would
have to secure additicnal information on radioactive
hazards at Bikini since last survey was made in 1949, also
told them that AFC might still have to use Bikini,
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N mies
PN 0 TO BE UNCLASSIFIED
AUTHOR ETY © DOB/ She 20
BY HB. SCRMIST, PATH:
MAn icScARGH & APPL
HAALBO ©/20/94