by the Congress of Micronesia with arrangements for medical observers to accompany our examinations and other problemsthat developed during this time, as outlined in the report. Following this difficult period. it was encouraging that there ensued a marked improvement in attitude toward the program. There were several possible reasonsfor this: the favorable report of the medical observers to the Congress of Micronesia on the conduct of the examinations; our efforts to increase communication with the people about the effects of radiation and the objectives of our program, and our increased efforts to expand primary health care by placing a resident physician in the Islands; and, last but not least, the increased response of the United States in compensation settlements. It was also encouraging that the Japanese groups no longer becameinvoived with the program.. In retrospect, it was unfortunate that the AEC, because it was a research organization, did not include support of basic health care of populations understudy. For this reason, the Brookhaven medical program in the Pacific could not be designated other than a research project, restricting the scope of the program to the diagnosis and treatmentof radiation effects im the exposed people.** General health care of the Marshallese had been established as a responsibility of the Health Services of the Governmentof the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands andlater. the RepubliveltheMurshath=st Islands. With increasing effents.ef radiation in the exposed people and the need for more heaith care, particularly in the Outer Islands, the pro- gram was expanded (unofficially) within fiscal and time limitations beyondthe limitations imposed by the original mandate. This expansion included establishing a resident physician in the Islands. The limitations of the program described above was the basis for criticisms of the scope of our program described.. During the early years of the examinations, when there were few findings related to radiation exposure, there were suggestions that the examinations might be reduced in scope andfre- quency. However, we felt that it was important 23The Radiation Effects Research Foundation,a joint AEC/Japanese project 1n Japan to study the effects of the atomic bomb. radiation on the Japanese people, likewise did not include AEC support for general health care of the populations under study. g00419) to continue regular, detailed examinations because of the paucity of information aboutlate effects of radiation in human beings. This dee:sion proved to be fully justified when thyroid effects began to appear, and we wereable to detect and treat them at an early stage before complications developed. When the Rongelap people moved back to their atoll in 1957, there were persisting fears about the low levels of residual contamination of their island. This undercurrentof fear continued in spite of further comprehensive radiological surveys showing the radiological safety of the island, and our annual, sensitive monitoring of the people for internally absorbed radioactive elements and our reassurances that their radiation exposure from living on the island was less than that of people living in the United States. It was unfortunate that in 1986, after living on Rongelap for nearly thirty years, the people chose to evacuate their island. This event was followed by a complex series of actions initiated by representatives of the Rongelap people to investigate the DOE reports of the radiological safety of Rongelap. They requested funds to carry out an independent investigation of the radiological safety of their island for habitation. Recently DOE and DOI provided a fund for this purpose and such an investigation is in progress. In tha meantime the Rongelappeople.continueto live on the unsatisfactory island of MejatoiinKwajalein atoll, vt heee ied Equally discouneging has beenithe unfortunate saga of theBikini,people who, were removed from their atoll 44 years ago before Operation Crossroads. Resettlement on Rongerik Atoll resulted in near starvation of the people and they have never been satisfied with life on Kili Island. The early attempt to recolonize Bikini with several families had to be. abandoned whenit was found that radiation levels on its island were higher than previously had beenreported, and that there was an unacceptable increase in absorption of radioactive elements in the people due to consumption of newly grown fruits on the island. Although efforts have been made to make Kili Island more habitable, the people are not happy there and yearn for the long overdue return home.It can be hoped that the recent allotmentof U.S. funds to the Bikini people to handle the radio-