CrTIONaAL FOAM AO WAY ‘8? EDITION GLA CEM MEG HO 1B . $010 -1oF g7 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO THRU > R. E, Hollingsworth, General Manager 3: Howard C. Brown, Jr., AGMA FROM = DATE: bboy fh tires , MAY 5 1866 John-A. Harriég, Jr., Director Division of Public Information SUBJECT: PROPOSED ANNOUNCEMENT AND RESPONSES TO INQUIRIES ON FIVE MARSHALLESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THYROID NODULES DPI:FT Attached for your approval are a proposed public announcement and responses to inquiries on circumstances surrounding five new cases of thyroid nodules detected in the Narshallese people during the March, 1966, medical survey. Two upcoming events are likely to receive news media attention: 1. the arrival, this month, of five Rongelap people in this country for clinical examination and possible surgery; and , 2, the appearance of an article, in June, in the New England Journal of Medicine on the latest findings by Dr, R,. A. Gonard of BNL, We recommend that the announcement be approved for issuance by Brookhaven National Liboratory just before the arrival of the five Marshallese. The questions and answers are for use to the extent necessary in response to telephone tnuquiry only, or for guidance before interview with media representatives, Attachments 4PPROVEDS . General Manager , an > “A a Lex ate 23) oe Bayday l US. I on the Payroll Sat ings Plan Sasings Bonds Regularly Date