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