‘cai group from the United Nations or otner
groups not reiated to the AEC to examine the
peopie.
Tn August 1971, Ataji Balos, a representative
of the Rongeiap and Utirik peopie in the
Congress of Micronesia, was invited to Japan to
a symposium on nuclear bombtesting; ne was
accompanied by
who had been
Magistrate of Rongelap at the time ofthe accident: B-52). On his return, Balos stated that the
Japanese were very interested in the fallout
effects on the Marshallese people and that the
United States was unwilling to give them information (B-53,54). I wrote a letter to Balos, published in the Marshall Island newspaper
(Micronitor), setting the record straight about
the availability of our publications and information on medical findings (B-55). This wasfollowed by an exchange offriendly published
letters in which Balos questioned me about the
radiation exposure of the Marshallese. our findings, comparative radiation effects in the
Japanese fishermen compared with the
Rongelap people, how long our studies would
continue, and the lower compensation of the
Rongelap people compared with thefishermen
(B-56). I was happy to answer these questions
because | felt that I might clear up misconcep-
tions about our examinations and improve our
relations with the Marshallese. This was not to
be the case.urther problems w» ere developing.
On hisvigit.10,7apaiyBA
fact-findinggroupafdape!
Islands.roezeainethetallout wétiany?
group ofSiz consistéd offeportérese:pudtographew, andtwodéctors+aneofwhonpwasfetf
Ezaki of Hitashinie 7
Phe
asked Balos to help inobtaining
igvisas.
tourist visas only, the team arrived in the
Marshall Islands in early December(1971), only
to findthat the Trust Territory authorities
refused their request to visit Rongelap because
their objective was to engage in surveys and
research for which prior permission was necessary (B-57). Ezaki then returned to Japan. The
remainder of the group stayed on at Majuro,
while Congressman Balos and Senator Kabua,
as well as the Micronesian Legal Services,
attempted unsuccessfully to get the decision
reversed. The group then returned to Japan and
abandoned plans for the survey (B-58).
This event caused considerable criticism of
the U.S. authorities among the Marshallese.
Senator Kabua madeit knownthat °...he would
9004199
Me ee
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
not cooperate in any way hereafter in the AEC
medical surveys... (B-58,59). However, Balos
wasreported as saying '...I don't think there is
anything to hide on Rongelap and Utirik. The
people were just anxious to see the (Japanese)
doctors..." On his return to Japan, Ezaki was
questioned about the U.S. medical team (B-60)
and stated "...To be honest, the U.S. conducts
such detailed surveys and careful treatment
that we felt it a shame to cal] ourselves “survey
team’... The treatment given to the crew members of the No. § Fukuruyu-Maru (Lucky
Dragon) Yazu is no comparison totheirs. A fol-
low-up is made on each survivor.It is said that
at one time a very extensive unit called a
Human Counter had been brought there to
determinethe residual radiation in the body.
Neither the Hiroshima University nor ABCC.
has such a unit. Not only the survivors, but also
the inhabitants in general are well cared for,
having to pay almost nothing for medical
care..
In retrospect, I believe it would have been
betterif the U.S. authorities had allowed the
Japanese groupto go to Rongelap or to accompany our medical team for their observations.
In March 1972, our medical team, consisting
of six doctors, nine technicians, and several tons
of equipment,arrived at Rongelapaboard the
Trust Territory ship, M. V. Militobi, for the
annual medical examinations. With us were
. CharlesDMominick,«Congresaman representing
the:Utiniknecnly,end MikaMalone.areporter
(B-61);Shepeepie,auAauslwelvemnsdus: © “
a
ow
ite
warmly:Sutitookpetaappare
nt déthe village meeting thattW6people were illat ease.
TheinachproblenGumuired
they had ies ‘told’gak té aubpete
nations. The team held sick call and-a few peo-
ple came in to be examined,in spite of
admonitions from some of their elders. The
refusal of examinations was a discouraging and |
_ frustrating experience for our team, who were
prepared for a detailed survey.
Before departing from Rongelap, I asked
Dominick if he would be willing to let us examine the Utirik people, explaining that even
though we had not found radiation effects, they
should be undercareful medical surveillance in
viewof the long latent period for developmentof
thyroid tumors. He said that if they were not
sick they should not be examined, and if they
were examined they should receive compensation.
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MOVED
39