STATUNIG OF UNDLESTANDIAG
onTHE PART OF THE
COVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STAIES
AND THE COVERNMENT OL THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
CONCERNING THE
MOVE OF THE PEGPLE OF BIKINI
On August 1],
1978,
ISLAND, AUGUST,
1978
the Undersecretary of the Department
Interior, James A. Joseph,
of the
the Deputy Undersecretary, Wallace Green, and
the Director of the Office of Territorial Affairs, Ruch G. Van Cleve,
journeyed to Bikini Island to meet with its current residents.
of chei: meecing was co convcy information on the subjece of
The purpose
ths forthcaming
move by the people of Bikini Island to Kili Island, and to respond to questions and hicar concerns put to chem by the people of Bikini [slatd.
They
had carlier, on August 7, held a similar meeting with former residents of
Bikini
who now reside on Kili.
The High
Commissioner of
the Trust
Terricory
of the Pactfic Islands, Adrian P. Winkel, had been prevented vy bad weather
in Saipan from joining in the visit to Bikini Island, but he had earJier mee
with che people of Bikini, as well as with other Bikinians on Kili.
In 1946,
the people of Bikini were removed from their atoll by the
U. S. Navy in order to enable the United States to uSe the atoll for a
nuclear testing program which lasted until 1958.
The islanders were moved
first to Rongerik, then to Kwajalein, and ultimately to Kili.
1960's,
[nm the late
it appeared that levels of radiation on Bikini atcll were such that
the people could return to and use a number of the major islands of the atoll.
Beginning in 1969, a clean-up of the atoll and a rehabilitation program was
begun.
In the early 1970's,
anc the wihind
some Bikini peopte were employed in the project
Island populacion ineressed to apypiendaaiely iss in lyr.
1977, the intake of radionuclides by che people living on Piiirt
In
Island had
increased to alarming proportions, and a major feeding programs was instituted.
April, 1978 surveys showed that the feeding program had not resulted