ACPOSITORY —————
DoE [NV
ar
Ox Wo. TL
EE €xoa® 3
COLLECTION
°
rower
y'
40
——2L-2HEM
w
jz{192d
MHOIESIey,
rae
May 1, 1972
AES ST
:
os
Be
BEST COPYAVAILABLE
.
TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
, :
|
i
SAIPAN, MARIANA ISLANDS
US to Return, Mehe StHtate Eniwetol’
the United States government has in fact been able to
High Commissioner Edward £. Johnston and U.S.
Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams have issued a joint
structure its research plans and programs in such a way to
permit an carly return of the atoll to the people of
Eniwetok."
announcement indicating that the United States
Government is prepared to return Eniwetok atoll to the
Trust Territory at the end of 1973.
High Commissioner Johnston telephoned Marshalls
District Administrator Oscar DeBrum late Tuesday
Eniwetok atoll is one of the areas of the Marshall
Islands District where the United States has been involved
in defense research and development projects since 1946,
The people of the atoll were relocated to other islands:in
the
Marshalls,; and
had
recently announced their
intention to return to their home islands by the end of
this year.
.
in their statement High Commissioner Johnston and
Ambassador Williams said that future Micrenerian land
nzeds of the Department of Defense were set forth in the
third round of status negotiations which took 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
Pacific and concurrently reduce our land interests in the
Marshalls."
‘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,
possiblitity 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, wife of the Deputy High
Commissioner, pins a cap on Miss Theodora Joseph
{Truk}. Fifteen girls received caps during the ceremonies.
Mrs. Kieko Sigrah of the nursing school staff watches at
{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 andother .
plans for a rchabilitation program.
in this regard, the HiCom noted that Deputy Hich
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 Eniwetokdése at the district center. Coleman
also plansicd to overfly the Eniwetok complex on his way
to an inspection of Bikini atoll, where the agricufturat’
rehabilitation of that former atomictesting site is now
being closed out.
The HiCorn said that at some future date the leaders of
Eniwetok will be invited to Bikini to observe the
rehabilitation program there in action. He saicdt further
that the people of Eniwetck 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 and hard efforts to expedite the return of the atoll to
the people. Fle 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 an Caleb Caleb (Marshalls), This
particular ceremony makes these students full-fledged
member of the TT Nursing School,
Po
Te a ene eepate ce
ple
sn
.
oe
.
JP>,
3
iD
apie
j
\
<
ye
vee
~~
.“.
'
on
.
¢
'
x
\
-
/
a
.
\ .
4
;
.?
w sr
TF
Le
“t
-”
\
3
wees a Ne
-?
.
b
e
.
a
‘3 i
~ +;
aN
wed
‘‘
1
.
Ne
d