-6considerably higher than in the Rongelap population. Puzzling also is the fact that if the cancer cases are substracted from the total thyroid tumor incidence in the exposed Utirik people the benign lesions are no more numerous than found in the unexposed Marshallese populations. It is clear that the occurrence of 3 thyroid cancer cases in the Utirik population (which at that time equaled the Rongelap exposed incidence) caused the Utirik people to believe that their exposure had been greater than they had been led them to believe. This probably helped precipitate the latter of grievances sub- mitted by the Utirik people. The people's reaction toward the team leader is understandable to some extent, but their remarks about Dr. Knudsen are completely unjustified. Dr. Knudsen is an excellent physician, has been dedicated to the health care of the Marshallese and has been well liked and respected by the people. RAC:im Enclosures Robert A. Conard, M.D. 8-10-76