Honorable Richard Mh. Page 9 May 4, 1973 Nixon The purpose of this letter is to show the treatment of the Bikinipeople bythe United States. government,andtodetailthe sufferings and grievancesofthedisplaced people of Bikini” Theyhave endured endless broken promises; three forcedrelocationsoftheir homes; malnutrition and near~starvation; atomic destruction of”their homéland andirradiationOftheirsoil; deteriorationof‘their social structureandToss”6f asense of community;“loss of many skillsrequiredforfishingonan atoll; isolationandrejection bythe government; and thé certainrisk of livingwiththedangérsofYadioactivity-”Forall ofthis theyhaveYrécéiveda4trustfundthat~-toses money, some surplus U.S.D.A. food and an isolated and miserable island far from their home. Surely the United States will not ignore their rights and complaints. Surely they are entitled to at least the same treatment that was awarded to the people of Enewetak. In 1970, the United States government made an "“ex-gratia" payment to the people of Enewetak, now residing on Ujelang, of $1,020,000, in payment for the sufferings they had endured. The Enewetakese clearly deserve such a payment. But the people of Bikini have perhaps suffered much more at the hands of the United States atomic-test program than the people of Enewetak. Yet they [have received a great deal less. All they now ask is similar treatment and a similar trust fund that will enable them to reach a state of self-sufficiency. Now is the time to open discussions on such a subject, and act according to the resolution passed by the Congress of Micronesia on January 30, herewith. 1973, and attached The people of Bikini look forward to a prompt answer from the United States government. Sincerely yours, MICRONESTAN LEGAL SERVICES CORP. Counsel for Bikini People HAMLET J. BARRY, JAMES LICKE By cc: Washington, D. C. Johnston High Commissioner, TTPI Saipan, Mariana Islands and EL Hamlet J. Barry, YAl Directing Attorney, Marshalls Mr. Rogers C. Morton Secretary of the Interior Honorable Edward E. III 96950