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dune ll, 1954
Honorable Orme Lewis
Assistant Secretary
of the Interior
Department of the Interior
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Lewis:
The enclosure forwarded with your letter of May 13, 195
enumerates correctly, insofar as the Atomic Energy Commission
is able to ascertain, the measures which are currently teing
uncertaken by the Commander in Chief, Pacific for the ree
Settlement of the natives evacuated from Rongelap and Utirik.
The Commander in Chief, Pacific has indicated that he would
implement, with assistance from the Atomic Energy Commission,
such measures as are required in resettling the Msrshallese.
This position has been concurred in by the Chief of Naval
Operations.
with primary responsibility for this matter residing in the
Commander in Chief, Pacific, it ia Apparent that the Atomic
Energy Commission is not in a position to assure that all
details outlined in Mr. Midkiff's letter will be executed.
However, Since the Commander in Chief, Pacific has requested
that he be given responsibility for these matters with the
exception of the continued medical care of these Marshall
Island residents, and the Chief of Naval Operations has
concurred, there can be little doubt of his willingness to
fulfill the obligations entailed in the resettlement of the
natives.
Insofar as continued medical checks are concerned, the Atomic
Energy Commission has accepted this responsibility. Dr. Bugher,
our Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine, has
diccussed with the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands possible means of implementing this Commission responsibility. In addition, the Commission will insure
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