Desosta efferta over several yeers to assure the Kili people that aay return to Bikini would be far in the future, they have contina-— ued to entertain a desire to retern. In 1966 they approacked the High Commissioner coacerning the possiaility of poins back. Tovard that end, the Hich Cormissioner aad this Department requested the Atomic Enargy Commission to make a detailed study of tue renainias devels of radioactivity in che atoll in view of an indication that the levels were no longer dancserous. This study was conducted in April 1367 and the AEC expects scoa to be ahle to cozplete its aualysis of tne data and to advise us whether er not the atoli is du fact safe for lieman habitation and the conduct of noraal Usrshallase Llivelinooi. : — Asainst the provability that the Atonfe Inerczy Comelssion will conclude vithin the next For weeks thet the atoll is in fact ssie, we suould Ifke reapectfully to request that you determine wuetrher there still recains aay nations] security need for Bikini Atoll. 2 Yecojnize that a vajor land clearing and reseattlonent prosran will &2 required before a retura by the Eilid preple to Bikini is actually possisle, and the hish Commissioner is draving up the Cetails of such a srovesul to pornit ali ef us to plan rore thorwushily the nent steps wirieh: Teed te be tazen. However, it sili be nécessary to know as soe. as possible after ths nealti detersnination ta made vhethor or not, fron the bafense standpoint, the peerle can be returned to BihinlL. hay I sugsest that there are certain “political” criterda which ve belicve should be weished in reaciins a conclusion vith resrect to Sihini, One is tae senerally favorable attitude which the Mieronesiaas now have toward the United States, an attLtude whien ve believe should ba oncourazed and would be encourased by the return Of tne Sikini people. Anotacr is She possible used, some time in the future, for additional military land acquisition in the Trust Territory. The land-poor Micronesian is likely to have a yore fsvoravle reaction toward such ecditional acquisition 1f a dezon- _>_#tration is cloorly made that ite lands, sues as Bikini, which are ho loacer necded, are in Fact promptly returned. Thirdly, we vould dist the overall credit vhich vould acerue to tne United States 41£ these people, once displaced fer nuclear testinz by the united States, could be proiptly restored to thcir historie and tracitional nore aa B000 as it becones feasible to do go. a 4229/2108] P0243 ”