HOUSE JOURNAL -- 1%th DAY 1 the applicable law revealed that under 53, TTC Section 54 an application for an entry permit could be made to and granted by the District Ad- Ministrator. We therefore determined to prerent the matter ‘iractly to the Distad and proceeded to his office in Ataji's pick-up truck. The gtoup was introduced to the Distad and I expiained the circumstances surrounding their arrival and assured Mr. deurum that until ile medical entry application was acted uron, either by himself or Saipan, the group would remain in Majurco and conduct themselves strictly as tourists. I then indicated that under Section 54, it was possible for the Distad to make an immediate evaluation of the proposed activity of the survey team and a decision as to whether they be allq@ed into or excluded from the Trust Territory under the standards set cut in Section 5¢. The Distad stated that he was aware that the application was presently under consideration by the Attorney General and flatly declined to take any substantive action not first approved by the AG in Saipan. It was unfortunate that at this stage, Russ Walker was not present to advise the Distad who was extremely edgy and simply unwilling to accept My assurances that he had adequate authority to act. The Distad then proposed that we telephone Acting AG Bowles in Saipan. “On the telephone, Bowles“stated that the group were (sic) not tourists, had no authority to be in the Trust Territory and must depart on the afternoon flight for Honolulu. I stated thac so long as thes conducted themselves ag tourists and refrained for all nontourist activity, they must be allowed to remain pending a determination upon their application for non-tourist or business status. Bowles finally agreed to accept my offer to provide nim with a compicte information concerning the personnel within the group and their proposed activities within Micronesia and to reconsider his latest decision that the group was not’ 'traly a medical team.‘ (We received his cable to this effect shortly after the phone call was concluded. It was apparently sent as soom as he became aware of the team's presence in Majuro.) Both me and the Distad requested that he immediately come to Majuro to make an assesment (sic) of the situation and conduct a hearing to determine the propriety of the applications. Bowles refused, e "on Fridav, Dec. Lith we rabled Bowles providing him with the information ha had agreed to i: ceive and insisting that the group would remain in Majuro as tourists util he made a substantive decision Yeyarding the medical survey undcr Section 56. We also stated our intention to apseal his desision under Sectioa §8 if the arplication was denied. Even though Secti-:n 58 appeared to allow appeal in cases involving US nationals and citizens, it is directed specifically to decisions of the HiCsm unduc Section 56(11). I figured tnat denial of the medical survey would, inevitably, have.to be grounded upon the latter subsection and- this, ccmbined with the fact that ‘nationais' referred to in Section 58 ceuld roasonc),ly include Micronesians, could Bupport jurisdiction for an carpeal. Ret). Bales and the mericrs of .’ the Rongelap Mun. Council, Nicronesians | were the real parties in intcrest and therefore should be entit) a Pp appeal. "Bowles* reply was absurd, He styted that the group was, indes:d, a medical team and could there: re jot remain in Majuro as tourists penling a decision on their Ne! peo arist appilcation. és authority for his decision, ha cited Ad:uni steaticn Directive 69-1 . “ (Jan. 15, 1969) which apparently states *nap mo person entering the ‘Trust Territory as a tourist could changg jis status while :omaining “Within thorTe. lcoither the Immigration Ofvicer nor the Distad was *103-