technical programs and discussions of the latent ef&ects of radiation.
Apart from purely medical explanatlons, we have attempted to convey
an understanding of the Limitations upon the AEC's (now ERDA's) activities.
For example, ERDA has neither authority, jurisdiction, nor resources to
deal with the general social welfare needs of Trust Territory populations.
ERDA'’s medical resources in the Marshall
Islands have been provided for the
limited purposes set forth in this letter.
Although It has been possible
during thelr perlodic visits for ERDA's medical
teams to volunteer limited
dlagnosIs and treatment ofmany of the islands4 residents, general medica]
care remains a responsibility of the Trust Territory government.
In this connection, we assure you that none of our Utirtk medical
programs have been, nor have we [ntended them to be, 'axper Imentatton”
programs’; nor have we ever viewed the Utirik people as “human guinea
pigs,'' as suggested
in your letter.
be frresponsible for us to fail
We have frankly recognized that it would
to keep the affected populations under
Br eTTag
medical survelllance and to [nvestigate and treat any long term
of the 1954 detonation.
Accordingly, we have,
effects
through the Brookhaven
Natlonal Laboratory, utl lh zed the best medical and sclentific resources
avallable in the United States
itn service to the people of Rongelap and
Utirik who were expased to radilatlon from the 1954 test.
This has
Included medical examinatlons, treatment, medication and, where necessary,
travel
to hospltals
procedures.
in the United States for special medical and surgical
While these efforts are antirely motivated by concern for
the welfare of the people,
it was recognized that cooperating with the
periodic medical visits might constitute an inconvenlence to Individual
nearsons; accordingly, in 1974 the AEC pald the Utirik people $18,000 as