The present Mission. while acknowledging that the people of Micronesia enjoy a standard of living wnich compares favorabiy with thac of many developing countries, must also report that there has been surprisingly little progress towards self-sufficiency. Commodity exports amounted to just under $7,000,000 and earnings from tourism to about $5,000,000. Imports amountedto just over $38,000,000. Thus, the deficit in the balance of payments was over $26,000,000. The attainmentofself-sufficiency in Micronesia will not be easily achieved. Except for the abundant marinelife and coconuts for copra production, economic resources are — largely limited to handicrafts and tourism (B-40,44,45,75). For some years the Islands will require U.S. assistance in the Compact of Free Association. In the years that followed the fallout accident in 1954, the Marshallese people became increasingly aware of the effects of the accident (the displacementof the people with disruption of lifestyle, the harmful effects of their radiation exposure, and contamination of their home islands) (B-34,39). When the Rongelap people returned to a new village on their homeisland after a three-year absence, their adjustment was not satisfactory. Copra production and fish- ing was low. The village became overcrowded with relatives from other atolls. The Utirik people, who had been returned to their village earlier, readjusted their lifestyle more satisfactorily. . In 1959, the Rongelap people submitted a - suit through their lawyers for an $8,000,000 compensation for the harmful effects they had sustained from thefallout.'* Although the U.S. Government recognized that the people were entitled to compensation, the suit wasillegal because the United States could not be sued by the Marshallese, who lived in a foreign country. Finally, in 1966 the U.S. Congress passed a bill granting an ex gratia payment of $950,000 to er ee the exposed Rongelap peopie, amounting to "Several political leaders from the Marshall Islands, including Dwight Heine and Amata Kabua appeared before the United Nations Trusteeship Counai pleading the cause of the Rongelap people. SOCuI8S apout $11.000 per exposed person (B-46).'7 At this time, those exposed had no detectable thyroid effects and no leukemia had developed. The people received the moneyin 1966. Payment was not made in theform of a trust fund, as had been recommendedin the bill, bgt was paid directly to the individual or relatives of those who were deceased. In the meantime, the Utirik people complained that they also had been exposedto fallout and had received no compensation.I explained that we had not found any harmful effects and that, in view of the estimates of the snail amountof radiation they had received, we did not expect to find effects. They then asked me whyit was necessary for us to continue examining them. I explained that although we did not expect to find effects, we should continue to examine them so thatif any effects did develop we would be able to treat them. On my recommendation we later got a smail payment of $16,000 for the Utiri people, amountingto about $100 per person, as an “inconvenience™ payment. Later, when the Utirik people showed a slight increase in thyroid tumors, they were included in further compensation. A “Fallout Survivors Bill” in 1974, provided funding for treatment in the Marshall Islands hospitals, with travel and per diem allowancesfor the exposed Rongelap and Utirik people, as well as the controi, unexposed population. In 1978, a bill was passed by the U.S. Congress compensating individuals who had developed radiation | illnesses (those with thyroid surgery, and the parents of the young man whohaddiedof leuke- mia) (B-47). Whenthe Trusteeship ended in 1986, the Marshall Islands became the Republic of the Marshall Isiands. A Compact of Free Association was signed with the United States (B-19). The Compact granted the Islands full internal self-government with authority and '''The Dill stated “The affected individuals have already been given extensive medical care and treatment. They were provided housing, clothing, and subsistence during their absence from their island. Since their return, in eddition to new houses. a school, a church, a community building, and other facilities. they have been given new livestock and agricultural aid, as weil as subsistence in decreasing amounts. Smail claims for property losses, such as clothing and handtools, were paid by the Department of Defense. . It cannot be card, however, that the compensatory measures heretofore taken are fully adequate. Enactmentof H.R. 1988 is needed to permit the United States to do justice to these people.” 37