x . wnetser or not there is a conacoll which would preclude x0i4, if the island is unsafe from the health standvoint, we nced not addvess ourselves to th Gotense Cuesvion. naned % Pere However, you may be assured trav if the island fe, we snucll inmcciately avproach the “teials with respect to this u& second question. sais uestion may be * As a thivd stop, again assuming that the island is safe from the healta svancpoint and whav the Dafenso requirements are such that the neodle can return, iv will be necescaory to mount a massive lanéelearine progran, village reccusvruction prograa, and crop- planting program. Ta addition, the High Commissioner and we would certainiy incend to do all sossibie to srovide economic opportunities for the returned peovle which would lift them beyond the mere sub- ner a4 Sistence cconomr which they had vrior to their removal from the : t. " oO Tae major islancs of tne Bikini Atoll are very heavily overgrown grows actation which nas litvle or no economic valuc. This growenh must be removed before any but the most méarer 3i be ble on the island, It is our understanding that there roenein very Tow coconut trees, without wiich Life on a coral atoll is virtually impossible. There ve Tew if any other plants crowing on the island waich would sustain life for the returned peonle. Accordingly, once the noneconomic overgrowehn has been removed a mejor replanting program will be required, While some crops in whe Pacific mature rapidly, it takes seven years for a aewly~2 Dlenved ccconut tree to bear fruit. Oovicusly, the solution to the problem of the people of Bikini is now ome which can be effected immedi ately, even if we assume that affirmative answers to our first two qucstions were available today. I hope the foregoing info ma Senator Case, We in the Den seriously that Mr. Jenkins Kili thecuga an anneal to th press. 11 be of held to you and to oz the Interior regret most en to try to help the people of echi Council and thereoy to the eeshin paroreunaselys che solution to the problem requires sclentitic answers to scientific cuestions, plus a major effort in terms of providing massive clesring, vec onstruction, and replanting. Tne latver can only be accomplished, we believe, with the cooperation oF the scveral involved executive agencies ofthe United States, the Congress, and the pecple of the territory. At best, despite the sense of urgency wnich the High Comnissioner and we have, it cannot be accomplished forthwith. -