atoll on March 6, 1946.
square miles,
Rongerik has a dry land area of 0,65
scattered over approximately 17 islands.
has a lagoon area of 55.36 square miles.
It
This is much smaller
than the 2.32-square-mile land area and 229.40-square-mile
lagoon area of Bikini, with its 36 islends
The attempt to settle at Ronserik was a failure,
due to the insuffictlent natural resources.
A Board of
Investigation convened by the Navy on June 2,
that
allegedly
1947, recommended
the displaced Bikinians be moved again.
The Bikinians through their leader "King" Juda, as he was
erroneously christened by romantically minded newsmen, accom-
panied by three leaders (alab) of Bikini, inspected Rongerik,
Kili, Ujilang, Wotto and Ujae to try to find a suitable place
in which to relocate their people.
The Bikini people were
interested in getting back to their ancestral home as
893 possible and hed allegedly regarded tne past and
rapidly
future
resettlements as only temporary.
The period from June 2,
spent
to September 1,
1947,
in inspecting these possible resettlement areas,
August
gent
1947,
26,
1947 the council
was
On
of the ex-Bikini people on Rongerik
the following letter to the American authoritics:
(translation):
"fo the Office at Kwajalein:
|
Gentlemen:
We the council have held a meeting
to find the best place to go to.
We have been
to some other places to inspect and have conSidered them.
In moving we find it quite a
problem.
The place we all agreed to stay on
is Rongerik Atoll.
4
sfvie, She Council
O13 944