ie
“cerease in the radionuclide body burden.
The Departwent of the
taterdor decided, in the light of the evidunce presented by the Department
oi Energy,
that the people living on Bikini should be moved at the earliest
peur wathes
an wetiul/radiolmgace! Sulvey currently underway and other
radiological tests or Bikini being concucte! by the Deparement of Enersy
will determine whether Bikini *.oli can, in tne ioresceable future, be
considered as a home for the Bikini’ people.
Among the requests of the people of both Bikini and Kili was a
10.
request for a statement in writing of the understandings that the repre-
11.
Sentatives of che United States conveyed during those meetings and of the
12.
commitments
13.
ing are inrended to respond to the principal concerns then and there
14.
expressed.*
that those representatives were willing to make.
The follow-
15.
16.
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Van Cleve, on behalf of the Government of the
1?.
United States, and Mr. Winkel, on behalf of the Government of the Trust
18.
Territory, offered the following assurances:
a
.
-19.
20.
I.
The Government of the United States considers itself generally
21.
responsible for the well being of the Bikini people and their descendents
22.
and, following consultation with them, the Government of the United States
23.
will seek to arrange their relocation, permanently,
24.
Manner possible.
25.
such authority and such resources as may be required in order to meet and
BU AugUsSl
14,
in the most satisfactory
[he Departmence of the Interior will undertake to obtain
19rS,
ceon
ther
ote
Bikini
and Kali omoctoues.
the
four
officers iclerred Lo above were involved in a major airplane accident
off the coast of Guam.
Although they were among che survivors, their
notes taken at the meetings sunk with the airplane.
This statement.
drafted by Mrs. Van Cleve on August 15 at the Guam Naval Hospital is
intended to be as full as recollections permit, but in the circumstances
it may not be complete.