UNCLASSIFIED
ENCLOSURE IIT
March 9th, 1956
TO
: The United Nations Visiting Mission
FROM
: The Marshallese Congress Hold-Over Committee
SUBJECT: RE-ITERATION OF THE MARSHALLESE PEOPLE'S PETITION TO
THE UNITED NATIONS, DATED, APRIL 20th, 1954, REGARDING
THE EXPLOSION OF LETHAL WEAPONS WITHIN OUR HOME ISLANDS
In view of the official announcement to the Marshallese
people of the coming nuclear test in this area in the not too
distant future, we, the
Hold-Over Committee and
re-iterate our petition
the exyrlosion of lethal
members of the Marshallese Congress
other interested leaders of our people
of April 20th, 1954, which dealt with
weapons within our home islands,
Our petiticn emphatically stated that:
1. All the experiments with lethal weapons within this
area be immediately ceased.
2. If the experiments with sald weapons should be
judged absolutely necessary for the eventual well being
of all the people of this world and canno% be stopped or
changed to other areas due to the unavailability of other
locations, we then submit the following suggestions:
a. All possible precautionary measures be taken
before such weapons are exploded,
All human beings
and their valuable possessions be transported to safe
distance first, before such explosions occur.
b. All the people living in this area be instructed
in safety measures.
The people of Rongelap would have
avoided much danger if they had known not to drink the
waters on their home island after the
dusts had settled on them.
radioactive
ec. AGegquate funds be set aside to pay for the
possessions of the people in case they will have to be
moved from their homes.
This will include lands, houses
and whatever possessions they cannot take with them, so
that the unsatisfactory arrangements for the Bikinians
and Eniwetok people shall not be repeated.
d. Courses be taught to Marshallese Medical
Practitioners and Health~Aides which will be useful
in the detecting of and the circumventing of preventable
dangers.
{
'
Our request Number 1 was not headed, another test will soon
be made.
Request Number 2,
to some degree, has been taken care
of to the satisfaction of the Marshallese people.
- 4 -
The Rongelap
Enclosure III