Trey fa: 402889 Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20585 FROM: SUBJECT: JUN 15 88 EN H. G LEIGH EMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 177 OF THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION In reviewing a copy of the subject signed Agreement which was received by my office on June 14, I discovered what appears to be a significant omission. Article 1 of the Agreement provides that "The Government of the United States shall provide on a grant basis $30 million. restriction. . ." without Presumably this grart is intended to be used by the Marshall Islands Government to include in its integrated, comprehensive and universal medical health-care system the health care and surveillance programs and radiological monitoring activities contemplated by Public Laws 95-134 and 96-205, as was provided in the Proposed Statement of Principles. Unfortunately, however, the Agreement language in no way defines the intended use of the grant of $30 million and no other provisions appear to cover the health care of the Marshallese. Unless the intended use of this grant is so specified, the United States arguably will be legally as well as morally required to continue its existing health care programs. This could be an issue of great sensitivity when the Agreement is considered by Congress. Hopefully the omission of the intended use of the grant can be clarified in an agreed supplement to the Agreement prior to the plebiscite in August. ‘ One way of initiating such a clarification effort would be fer the Department to transmit as soon as possible a formal communication of our concerns to the Office of Micronesian Status Negotiations. If I can be of assistance to you in that effort, please let me know. -