“The interested ageicies of the executive branch, specifically
the Department of State,
Energy Commission,
the Department of Justice,
and tnis Department,
recognize,
the Atomic
that despite the
various forms of assistance and compensation provided the affected
individuals, they have not obtained redress in terms of all the types
of injury they may have sustained.
They have not received any
payments, as such, for claims based upon pain or suffering
in connection with their physical injuries or their necessary but
summary removal from their home island for over three years or
their natural concern about their own future or that of their children.
‘We cannot say with any certainty that there will be no future
illness or death and no diminuation in life expectancy which can
be attributed to the 1954 fallout. The problem is further
complicated in terms of what measure of damage in monetary
terms is appropriate considering the nature of their culture
and their economy.
“ The extent to which claims might be legally compensable at
this
time should not,
in our view,
be controlling in any event.
You will recall that the United States made an ex gratia payment
of $2 million to the Japanese Government on account of claims
arising out of the 1954 fallout on a Japanese fishing boat and its
crew.
The Japanese Government was responsible for determining
how the money should be distributed.
We believe that
the
circumstances here also justify assumption by the United States
of "compassionate responsibility" and a monetary payment, “
Through
Olympio T.
the
courtesy of Senator Henry if.
Jackson,
Chairman
Borja of the Special Joint Committee received a copy of
certain testimony before the Territorial and Insular Affairs Subcommittee
with regard to HR 1988.
The testimony was from a vice-president of the
Marshall Islands Congress, Amata kabua (now Senator Kabua of the Congress
of Micronesia).
United States,
Senator Kabua had arranged for the lawsuit against the
and Mr.
liigh Commissioner)
Dwight Heine
brought
the
(now Special Consultant
to the
case of the Rongelapese before
United Nations Trusteeship Council.
-1/7-
the
,
:
:
i
S
Senator Kabua demonstrates in hi