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