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OrFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
May 1, 1972
SAIPAN, MARIANA
us o Return, IR eh EO He
High Commissioner Edward E, Johnston and U.S.
Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams have issued a joint
announcement indicating that the United States
Government is prepared to return Eniwetok atoll to the
_Trust Territory at the end of 1973.
Eniwetok atoll is one of the areas of the Marshall
tslands District where the United States has been involved
in defense research and development projects since 1946,
The peopie of the atoll were relocated to other istands-in
had recently announced their
the Marshalls, and
intention to return to their home island. Ly the end of
this year.
.
:
In their statement High Commissioner Johnston and
Ambassador Williams said that future Micrcnesian land
needs of the Department of Defense wereset forth in the
third round of status negotiations which tock place in
Hawaii last year. “There Ambassador Williams stated that
in regard to... security related land requirements in the
Marshalls, the need for research and development
activities at Kwajalein would not disappear in the
forseeable future.” The statement added, however, that
Ambassador Williams further noted that “it may someday
‘become possible to consolidate our testing activities in the
The announcement said that “the status of Eniwetok
has been under study by the various departments and
agencies in the United States government ever since the,
possiblility of returning Bikini Atoll was first considered.
Over the years, the Department of Defense has been
. Striving to ‘bring its work on Eniwetok to a close. (Now)
During “Promotion Ceremonies” held April 21 at the TT
school of Nursing, Mrs. Coleman, veife of the Deputy High
Commissioner, pins a cap on Miss Theodora Joseph
(Truk], Fifteen girls received caps during the cercmonies.
Mrs. Kieko Sigrah of the nursing school staff watches at
left.
‘Ure
Eniwetok.”’
°
High Commissioner Johnston telephoned Marshalls
District Administrator Oscar DeBrum late Tuesday
. (April 18) to announce the return of the atoll, and
indicated that the U.S, government and the Trust
Territory administration will begin immediately to work
with the people of Eniwetok on a timetable and other
plans for a rehabilitation prograra.
In this regard, the HiCom noted that Deputy High
Commissioner Peter T. Coleman was to accompany
Ambassador Williams on his trip through the eastern
districts, ending in Majuro where he had scheduled
meetings with Eniwetokese at the district center. Coleman
also planned to overfly the Eniwetok complex on his way
to an inspection of Bikini atoll, where the agricultural
rehabilitation of that former atomic testing site is now
being closed out.
The HiCom said that at some future date the leaders of
Eniwetok will be invited to Bikini to observe. the
rehabilitation progrdém there in action. He said further
that the people of Eniwetok will be consulted at every
step along the way in the rehabilitation program
DistAd DeBrumsaid that he was deeply grateful to the
High Commissioner and Ambassador Williams for their
long andhard efforts to expedite the return of the atall to
the people. He said he looked forward to the meetings
with Deputy HiCom Coleman and to beginning the
planning for the reversion of Eniwetok to the Trust
(continued on page 2)
Eleven male nursing students received badges during the
“Promotion Ceremonies.” Shown in the picture is Mrs.
Coleman pinning a badge on Celeb Caleb (Marshalls), This
particular ceremony makes these students full-fledged
member of the TT Nursing School.
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