- -7- LIMITED OFE Rongelap and Utirik 77 SE Lotte Congressman Ataji Balos (Congressman for the Rongelap_ people) will probably appear before the Council withhis complaint that the U.S. "knowingly and consciously" allowed the people of Rongelap and Utirik to be exposed to nuclear fall out in 1954 and that they have not been properly compensated nor have they received proper medical care. The people of these Islands are regularly examined by doctors from the AEC for further evidence of radiation related illnesses. Evidence occurred in the Marshall Islands this part year that herald possible trouble ahead for the Congressman Balos in talks and 1972 examinations. Marshallese statements to the press stated that he believed the AEC medical ‘team was withholding information about radiation effects in the exposed people. He believed that the team was only interested in scientific aspects of the examination and not treatment of the peoplié; that the people were being used as guinea pigs; "that the compensation given the Rongelap people was much lower than that given to Japanese fishermen who were exposed on the Lucky Dragon (L.D. eposide dealt with later). © . In October 1971 an exchange of letters was published in the local press between Congressman Balos and Dr. Rs Conard of GEC, in which a number of questions of Mr. Balos were answered by Dr. Conard‘regarding the examination of the people. Congressman Balos visited Japan and spoke to anti-bomb groups both in person and on radio discussing the "plight" of the Rongelap and Utirik people. He received a sympathetic response and invited a "medical team" to come to the Marshall Islands to check the health status and compensation aspect of the exposed pecple. The team consisted of one thyroid specialist, Dr. H. Ezaki, and a Japanese woman ~doctor active in bomb groups in Japan, plus some 8-10 Japanese ‘reporters representing various newspapers in Japan. The team arrived in early December without prior consultation with the Trust Territory and was refused permission teo:-go to Rongelap because of inadequate visas. The team had to return to Japan without accomplishing their mission. This angered the Micronesian' Congressman and the Trust Territory was condemned for ousting — the Japanese medical team and the charges concerning the AEC medical examinations were again voiced. Senator A. Kabua of the Marshalls stated that he would no longer cooperate with the AEC medical team. During the AEC's examination on March 6 at Ebeye Islands all the people were reluctant to report. They had apparently signed statements for Congressman Balos stating that they would not submit to the examinations. The AEC, however, obtained a radio dispatch from Congressmin Balos urging the peop..e to be examined by the AEC and stating that the results of the . examination would be evaluated by the Congressman of Micronesia. After that statement the AEC's doctors examined about 50-70 peoplea LINED OFFICIAL USE Faze-sioe F