tes
vecrease in the radionuclide body burden.
taterior decided,
oi Energy,
The Department of the
in the light of the evidence presented by the Department
that the people living on Bikini should be moved at the earliesc
seas ude.
an wetial/radiolngice!
sulvey currently underway and other
radiological tests or Bikini being concucte:! by the Deparement of Enerry
will determine whether Bikini #¢o11
can,
in tne soreseeable future, be
considered as a home forthe Bikini’ pédple.
Among the requests of the people of both Bikini and Kili was a
10.
request for a statement in writing of the understandings that the repre-
1l.
sentatives of the United States conveyed during those meetings and of the
12.
commitinents
13.
ing are intended to respond to the principal concerns then and there
14.
expressed.*
that those representatives were willing to make.
The follow-
15.
16.
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Van Cleve, on behalf of the Government of the
17.
United Staces, and Mr. Winkel, on behalf of the Government of the Trust
18.
Territory, offerea the following assurances:
‘
.
-19.
20.
I.
The Government of the United States considers itself generally
21.
responsible for the well being of the Bikini people and their descendents
22.
and, following consultation with them,
the Governmene of the United States
will seek to arrange their relocation, permanently, in the most satisfactory
24.
manner possible.
25.
such authority and such resources aS may be required in order to meet and
eUn AUGUSL
T4,
Ihe Department of the Interior will undertake to obtain
19S.
sean ter che Bikini and Kali moctoues.
the fonr
officers telerred bu abuve were involved in a major airplane accident
off the coast of Guam.
Although they were among the survivors, their
notes taken at the meetings sunk with the airplane.
This statement.
drafted by Mrs. Van Cleve on August 15 at the Cuam Naval Hospital is
intended to be as full as recollections permit, but in the circumstances
it may not be complete.