RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE 1965 continued are relocated from the hazard zone to Ebeye. A payment of $25 a month is provided for each of the 194 people residing on the islands, although more than 1,000 people have customary land rights in these islands. 1967 Bikini: United States Government agencies begin considering the possibility of the Bikini people returning to their home atoll. Bikini: An AEC study states of Bikini: "Well water could be used safely by the natives upon their return to Bikini... It appears that radioactivity in drinking water may be ignored from a radio- logical safety standpoint." Ujelang: After twenty years, the pro- blems of the displaced Enewetak people on Ujelang have mounted until the situation approaches a crisis. Field trip ships continue to be erratic in visits and materials for keeping sailing canoes operational are badly needed. Copra production is low (only 1/3 of the 1952 level), as the trees are old and newly planted trees will not bear for five years or more. Although cats have been brought in, rats are destroying the copra, and when supplies of rice and flour are exausted, the people eat BIKINI IN 1946: A SELF-SUFFICIENT PEOPLE PRIOR TO THEIR RELOCATION BY THE NAVY IN 1946. Ujelang: Housing built by the Navy in 1947 is severely deteriorated and there are no materials for repair or main- Photo by Leonard Mason ———.—— tenance. While the housing supply is ‘less, the population has grown to 285. The large community council house and Kwajalein: With increasing military activity at Kwajalein, employment of Marshallese increases to 663 people. The population on Ebeye rises to 3,500 people. the copra warehouse blew down years ago in a typhoon, and the sheet metal church and community center is rusting away. 1966 Kwajalein: The Ebeye population OCTOBER 20 Ujelang: A Trust Territory grows 1,000 in a year to 4,500 people, living on the available 66 acres (the Coast Guard station on the tip of Ebeye uses 12 acres). supply ship arrives at Ujelang to find the people with no copra to sell and no money to buy needed food and supplies. Almost all of the nearly 300 Kwajalein: An addeidum to the 1964 MidCorridor Islands lease is negotiated, people board the ship, demanding to leave Ujelang for Majuro to protest to the government that they have no food and are starving: Ataji Balos, a increasing subsistence payments to the 194 displaced people on Ebeye from $25 to $40 a month. JUNE Kwajalein: With the new impact area for missiles in Kwajalein's lagoon, Lib Island, 50 miles south, is no longer in the impact zone. the coconuts instead of making copra to sell. Its residents are re- turned home after five years on Ebeye. 17 government official on board, after 7 hours of efforts to persuade the people to give up their plan, agrees to stay with them on Ujelang, saying "If you will die, I will die with you." He calls for help by radio and promises (continued on page 19)