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.