‘cai group from the United Nations or otner groups not reiated to the AEC to examine the peopie. Tn August 1971, Ataji Balos, a representative of the Rongeiap and Utirik peopie in the Congress of Micronesia, was invited to Japan to a symposium on nuclear bombtesting; ne was accompanied by who had been Magistrate of Rongelap at the time ofthe accident: B-52). On his return, Balos stated that the Japanese were very interested in the fallout effects on the Marshallese people and that the United States was unwilling to give them information (B-53,54). I wrote a letter to Balos, published in the Marshall Island newspaper (Micronitor), setting the record straight about the availability of our publications and information on medical findings (B-55). This wasfollowed by an exchange offriendly published letters in which Balos questioned me about the radiation exposure of the Marshallese. our findings, comparative radiation effects in the Japanese fishermen compared with the Rongelap people, how long our studies would continue, and the lower compensation of the Rongelap people compared with thefishermen (B-56). I was happy to answer these questions because | felt that I might clear up misconcep- tions about our examinations and improve our relations with the Marshallese. This was not to be the case.urther problems w» ere developing. On hisvigit.10,7apaiyBA fact-findinggroupafdape! Islands.roezeainethetallout wétiany? group ofSiz consistéd offeportérese:pudtographew, andtwodéctors+aneofwhonpwasfetf Ezaki of Hitashinie 7 Phe asked Balos to help inobtaining igvisas. tourist visas only, the team arrived in the Marshall Islands in early December(1971), only to findthat the Trust Territory authorities refused their request to visit Rongelap because their objective was to engage in surveys and research for which prior permission was necessary (B-57). Ezaki then returned to Japan. The remainder of the group stayed on at Majuro, while Congressman Balos and Senator Kabua, as well as the Micronesian Legal Services, attempted unsuccessfully to get the decision reversed. The group then returned to Japan and abandoned plans for the survey (B-58). This event caused considerable criticism of the U.S. authorities among the Marshallese. Senator Kabua madeit knownthat °...he would 9004199 Me ee PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED not cooperate in any way hereafter in the AEC medical surveys... (B-58,59). However, Balos wasreported as saying '...I don't think there is anything to hide on Rongelap and Utirik. The people were just anxious to see the (Japanese) doctors..." On his return to Japan, Ezaki was questioned about the U.S. medical team (B-60) and stated "...To be honest, the U.S. conducts such detailed surveys and careful treatment that we felt it a shame to cal] ourselves “survey team’... The treatment given to the crew members of the No. § Fukuruyu-Maru (Lucky Dragon) Yazu is no comparison totheirs. A fol- low-up is made on each survivor.It is said that at one time a very extensive unit called a Human Counter had been brought there to determinethe residual radiation in the body. Neither the Hiroshima University nor ABCC. has such a unit. Not only the survivors, but also the inhabitants in general are well cared for, having to pay almost nothing for medical care.. In retrospect, I believe it would have been betterif the U.S. authorities had allowed the Japanese groupto go to Rongelap or to accompany our medical team for their observations. In March 1972, our medical team, consisting of six doctors, nine technicians, and several tons of equipment,arrived at Rongelapaboard the Trust Territory ship, M. V. Militobi, for the annual medical examinations. With us were . CharlesDMominick,«Congresaman representing the:Utiniknecnly,end MikaMalone.areporter (B-61);Shepeepie,auAauslwelvemnsdus: © “ a ow ite warmly:Sutitookpetaappare nt déthe village meeting thattW6people were illat ease. TheinachproblenGumuired they had ies ‘told’gak té aubpete nations. The team held sick call and-a few peo- ple came in to be examined,in spite of admonitions from some of their elders. The refusal of examinations was a discouraging and | _ frustrating experience for our team, who were prepared for a detailed survey. Before departing from Rongelap, I asked Dominick if he would be willing to let us examine the Utirik people, explaining that even though we had not found radiation effects, they should be undercareful medical surveillance in viewof the long latent period for developmentof thyroid tumors. He said that if they were not sick they should not be examined, and if they were examined they should receive compensation. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL RE MOVED 39