| | 4 | 5 "CONGRESS OF MICRONESIA | SAIPAN, MARIANA ISLANDS, 96950 t ‘ : . i , wtyoe SPECIAL JOINTCOMMITTEE CONCERNING , UTIRIK ATOLLS ‘(Public Law 4C-33) : 4OB209 ¢ Senator Otymplo T..Boria, Chairman Representative Timothy Olkeriil Representative Hans Willander “¢ : oo OO . : . a . July 7, 1972 The Honorable Edward E. Johnston High Commissioner Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Salpan, Mariana Islands 96950 -a REPOSITORY 2 JG Lr: Deéfw COLLECTION /,od a Fr rowpen o£/ “ exon wa 3" —2/ THR. iz,a 222723 ae \ BEST COPY AVAILABLE Dear Mr, Johnston: I have been informed that there remains some doubt as to the intention of the Special Joint Committee's recommendation, relative to your - ae ohm Fin cae ° te AA neem 8 ‘ a ‘ suggestion concerning an Atomic Energy Commission-financed medical survey team, to conduct a medical survey of the peopie of Rongelap and Utirik. To clear up any possible ambiguity, I would like to state that the intention of the recommendation contained on page eight of the May 16, 1972, Interim Report is not to have the AEC finance a team composed solely of Dr. Conard, Dr. Ezaki, and one doctor each from the World Health Organization. (WHO) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). Rather, the intention is that Dr. Ezaki, and the doctors from WHO and PHS will travel with the regular Brookhaven team sponsored by the AEC and headed by Dr, Conard, In other words, the three additional doctors will travel with the Brookhaven team which usually visits Ronpelap. Thene doctors, however, are asked to mttbnft theft own reports: -separate from the annual report of Che Brookhaven Ceam—to the Special Joint Committce, These reports, as stated on page eight of the Interim Report, will contain a thorough evaluation of "(a) the (Brookhaven) medical team's methods of examination, and (b) an evaluation of the medical treatment given to the Rongelapese in the past, and that given to them in the proposed survey." With regards to the matter of financing, the Committee is aware that neither it, nor the Office of the High Commissioner can direct the . AEC to conduct the survey. It is merely that the Committee is in agreement with yoursuggestionthat there would be no objection if the fom conan~ AEC did finance the-team.-—We,-ofcourse, realize that the AEC has | 5051 ane — ,