.
-12
On January 4, 1955, the United States t<ndered ~
$2 million
&rati:i the sum of
to the Government of Japan for purposes of compensation
for
injuries and damages sustained as a result of nuclear tests in the Marshall
Islands in 1954.
The< Japanese Cabinet decided to earmark 75% as coinpensation
to all the components
of tlie tuna indtistry; $108,000 was allocated to the
port city and the hospitals which i~ad incurred costs in caring for the affected
fishermen; and $151,000 was divided betweer. the owner and cre~w of the Lucky
Dragon, the fishermen receiving an average of about $5,500 each.
repeats a belief many Marshallese
Mr. Bales
seem to have - that the entire $2 million
was divicled among 23 Japanese fishermen, whe~-eas, only $0.9 million was
divided among 82 people who are friends and wards cf the United States znd
innclcerttvictims .
We are not in a position to evaluate how important Lhis .
rnisapprche~sion is.
At present Dr. Conard is in the Marshall
for the annual survey.
physicians.
additional
Islands wi~h a medical team
Tt~is year the team is being joined by two Japai]ese
Upon completion of the survey we will be pleased to provide
information.