ina decrease in the radionuclide body burden. Interior decided, of Energy, that possible date. radiological The Department of the in the lighr of the evidence presented by the Department the people living on Bikini should be moved at the earjiest An aerial/radiological survey currently underway and other tests on Bikini being conducted by the Department of Energy will determine whether Bikini atoll can, in the foreseeable future, be considered a8 a home for the Bikini’ peovle. Among the requests of the people of both Bikiri and Kili was a 10. request for a statement in writing of the understandings that li. sentatives of the United States conveyed during thuse meetings and of the 12. commitments 13. ing are intended to respond to the principaj) 14. expressed. * that those representatives were willing to make. the repre- The folluv- concerns then and there 15. 16. Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Van Cleve, on behalf of the Government, of the 1?. United States, and Mr. Winkel, on behalf of the Government of the Trust 18. Territory, offered the following assurances: 19. 20. 1. The Government of the United States considers itself generally 21. responsible for the well being of the Bikini people and their descendents 22. and, following consultation with them, the Government of the United States will seek to arrange their relocation, permanently, in the most satisfactory 24. wanner possible. 25. such authority and such resources as may be required in order to meet -and save t dS. The Deparrtwent of the Interior will undertake to obtain ayre, seornostter the barini ono Mili reetscce, the four valdsers releired to above were involved in a najcr airplane accident off the coast of Guam. Although they were among the survivors, their notes taken at the meetings sunk with the airplane. This statement. drafted by Mrs. Van Cleve on August 15 at the Guan Naval Bospatel is intended to be as full as recollections permit, but in the circumstances it may not he completc. DOE ARCHIVES