DRAFT
1
MARSHALL ISLANDS CHRONOLOGY
Jan - Feb 44
ADMINISTRATION
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Marshall Islands, administered by Japan since the end
to the United States military forces during the Pacific war.'
World War I, fall
2 Mar 44
AGREEMENT
The government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islandsj(T.T.) conveys to
the U. S. government the exclusive right to the use and occupancy pf EnewetakAtoll
for an indefinite period of time for "the sum of ten dollars." (This 1944 date is used
in this chronology because the date probably refers to the first agr
between a Marshail Islands leader and a U.S. representative, pro
first paragraph of this documentidentifies the date of the agree
March 1944, but this particular document was drawn uplater, pro
term "Trust Territory,” was not used in 1944 for the Marshall Islan
and the signers
were officials in 1957, not 1944. Subsequent language and signe of the document
also indicate the agreement was written later. This agreement w. recorded in the
Marshall Islands District Record Book 1, pp. 5, 6, and 7, on June
Jan 46
WEAPONTESTING
Pacific.*
Feb 46
0, 1957.)°
U.S. officials select Bikini Atoll for the first U.S. nuclear wefipon tests in the
AGREEMENT
RELOCATION
The military governor of the Marshall Islands obtains the cqnsent of a Bikini
chief to relocate his people so that Bikini can be used for nuclear
‘
7 Mar 46
RELOCATION
The U.S. Navy evacuates Bikini Atoll inhabitants to Rongeri
May 46
RELOCATION
Residents of Enewetak are moved to Meck Island in Kwajaldin Atoll, and the
Rongelap and Wotho people are evacuated to Lae Atoll for the durafion of the Bikini
tests.
1 and 25 ful 46
WEAPON TESTING
The United States detonates two nuclear weapons at Bikini in Operation
Crossroads.’