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STANDARD FORM NO. 64 7 office Memordndam UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Director of Biology & Medicine FROM : Brig. General Alfred D. Starbird, USA Director of Nil it ary Application Reference i s made t o your menorandm of Narch 21, 1356, on this subject wbich stated that there i s no health reason why the inhabitants of Mngelap cannot be returned to their home island without restrictions on their consuption of their natural food supply o r on their movement t o any of the non-Pacific Proving Groimd islands. As are s dt of your menorandm Imo tea amorandm on March 22 tothe General Xanager which mas coordinated with Dr. Dunning, recornending that the Rongelapese be returned to their hone island after Operation REDKCNG. The Generalganager approved this recamendation and t h e Commissioners have been infomed of the decision. Ata meeting a t the Department of State on March 23, attended by Dr. Dunning and Colonel Schnittke, a stat ment for use before the U. N. Trusteeship Council was drafted, which said in part that it i s now hoped that this moye (referring tothe return of the Rongelapese) can be nade i n %he early autmn. As you hog the Department of State md d like to have the inhabitants returned as soon as possible nhile the Departzent of Interior, although also desiring an early return, does not w a n t then returned as long as any restrictions remain on consumption of natural food supply o r aovement t o adjacent islands. 3efore the Xongelap inhabitaqts can be returned, therefore, I believe that it is necessary t o conduct another radiological survey and evaluat i o n of the condition 3f the islands after the conclusion of this test series, i n order t o make certain that the favorable present conditions which you reported i n your menorandm or" Xarch 2 1 have not been altered. Because of the press we for an earbj return it is essential th ct this survey and evaluation be carried out as soon as Dossible a f t e r the end of the tests.
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Consequently, I request that you make arrangeaents for conducting the radiological resurvey of Rongelap Atoll and the spfiounding islands a t the conclusion of the tests of Operatiion REDVING. like to have an estimate of when we can *ect to have your evaluation of the resurvey, inasmuch a s we must make plans now for maintenance support of the Rongelapese on Ejit Island beyond cpuly 1.