y
atoll on March 6, 1946.
Rongerik has a dry land area of 0.65
square miles, scattered over approximately 17 Aslands.
has a lagoon area of 55,38 squarc miles.
It
This is mucn smaller
than the 2.32-square-mile land arca and 229.40-square-mile
lagoon area of Bikini, with its 36 islands
Tne attempt to settle at Rongerik was a failure, allegedly
due to the insufficient natural resources.
A Goard of
.
Investigation convened by the Navy on June 2, 1947, recommended
that the displaced Bikinians be moved again.
~
The Bikinians through their leader “King" Juda, as he was
erroneously christened by romantically minded newsmen, accompanied by three leaders (alab) of Bikini, inspected Rongerix,
Kili,
Ujilang, Wotto and Ujae to try to find a sudtabdle place
in which to relocate their people.
The Bikint people were
anterested in getting back to tneir ancestral home as rapidly
as possible and had allegedly regarded the past and’ future
resettlements as only temporary.
|
Ne am ale ee
{Tne period from June 2,. 1947, to September 1, 1947, was
Spent
in inspecting these possible resettlement areas.
August 26,
1947 the council
On
of the ex-Bikint people’ on Rongerik
i
Sent
.
the following letter to the American authoritics:
i
(translation):
"Bo the Office at Kwajalein:
Gentlemen:
We the council nave held aA meeting
to find the best place to go to.
We nave been
Sidered them.
In moving we find it quite a
problem.
The place we all agreed vo stay on
is Rongerik Atoll,
Ce ain
5fle, The Council"
ge oe:
in ek a
to some other places to inspect and have con-