~6~ short periods of consultation in health ficlds, which a population of 100.000 could not be expected to support full time. The congineering expertise also available in the Indian Health Service and in D/HEW would be available for consultation and continuing program development in Micronesia. The cuccess achieved by the Departments of the Interior -and -- HEW in working together to improve the health and well being a sudden change catenin In 1958 during the nuclear tests at Bikini, aan) of the American Indian is an excellent example, which could be duplicated in the Trust Territory. in wind direction resulted in the irradiation of a group of Micronesian natives residing on Rongelap and Utirik Atolls as well as some Japanese fishermen. These individuals have been studied carefully, intensively and comprehensively | by the Atomic Energy Commission over the ensuing years. There has been an annual examination conducted by the Atomic : Iknergy Commission of the Rongelap citizens who were accidentally victims of irradiation. Three of the Rongelap natives wno were quite young at the time of the accident have developed thyroid carcinomas, operated. ; | which have been successfully : 4 Most recently the Micronesians have decided thet the Agency p concerned with the development and promotion of atomic energy should not be the same agency which conducts health examinations of their citizens who were accidentally —~ irradiated. Rightly or wrongly, the Congress of Micronesia feels that a conflict of interest exists. A few months ago when the Atomic Energy Commission physicians and their consultants arrived at Rongelap for the annual examination of its irradiated citizens they were not permitted to conduct the ecxamination. Dr. William Peck, a U.S. citizen who is che Chicf Medical Officer of the Trust Territory, told me that a Micronesian Committee set up by the Congress of Micronesia to investigate this situation (Tab D) conceivably might resolve it by inviting physicians from the Sovict Union or Communist China or a group of anti-American Japanese physicians to conduct the examinations. This presents an immediate problem for the U.S. ba Government