Attachment E United States Departmentof the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 Honorable Henchi Balos Member of Parliament JUN 1 4979 Nitijela Majuro, Marshall Islands 96960 Dear Mr. Balos: I am enclosing for your information a copy of the official letter sent by Under Secretary James A. Joseph to High Commissioner Winkel on the Eneu situation. I regret that the Under Secretary's absence from Washington precluded his Signing this letter before you left for the meeting with the Bikini delegation in Honolulu last week. I did relay to the High Commissioner informally the gist of the Under Secretary's letter and I am sure that he communicated the decision to the Bikini delegation. All of us here deeply regret that Eneu Island cannot be used for residence for at least another 20-25 years since we understand the deep feelings of the people of Bikini and their hopes, that even though Bikini Island is not useable now, Eneu Island possibly might have been. This is not now possible. We must turn now to the very immediate and pressing problem of where resettlement can be arranged for the people of Bikini. I assure you that here in Interior this matter has the highest priority. We shall, in cooperation with the High Commissioner, the Government of the Marshalls, and the people of Bikini and their legal counsel, press forward to seek a satisfactory solution. Please relay my warm regards to the people of Bikini. The welcome that they extended to Under Secretary Joseph, to Deputy Under Secretary Wallace Green and to me last August when we visited Bikini and Kili is one none of us will ever forget. Sincerely yours, RUTH G. Van CLEV E Mrs. Ruth G. Van Cleve Director Office of Territorial Affairs Enclosure