in Eilkini,

This situation should be kept in mind in planning

for any future negotiations concerning Bikini.4
Bikini Atoll Today and Its Economic Potential
I will not go into details of the condition of Bikini
today.

These have been covered in my daily log and in

Agriculturist James Hiyane's final report of the Bikini Survey.
A few salient points should be made here however.
The coconut trees and other food-bearing trees and plants
have been almost

completely destroyed.

Most of the islands

have become overgrown with vegetation.
The potential agricultural areas will have to be cleared
and completely replanted.

This will be a formidable task,

which will extend over a long period of

time.

outlined a preposed program to accomplish this.

Mr. Hiyane has
I concur with

Hiyane but think the scale of the program should be greater.
All available areas of the atoll]

as quickly as possible.
the

should be

cleared and planted

This will hasten the relocation of

exiled Bikinians on their home atoll and in the long run

will be more cconomical.
The large islands of Bikini, Eneu,
greatest economic potential.
islands,

and Nam have the

They were the main copra-producing

and the main sources of vegetable foods in the past.

The smaller islands toward the southwest,
Enedrik,

4

were also valuable

such as Aer&kdj and

sources of copra and food plants

in

See Tobin, J.A., The Bikini People, Past and Present, Majuro,
Marshall Islands, October 1952, for more detailed information.

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