We want a doctor to live on our island permanently. We don’t need medical care only when it is convenient for you to visit. We want to be able to see a doctor when we want to. America has been trying to Americanize us by flying flags and using cast-off textbooks. It’s about time America gave us the kind of medical care it provides its own citizens.
We’ve never really trusted you. So we’re going to invite doctors from hospitals in Hiroshima to examine us in a caring way.
We no longer want to be under American control. As a representative of the United States, you’ve convinced us that Americans are out to dominate others, not to help them. From now on, we will maintain our neutrality and independence from American power.
There will be some changes made. Next time you try to visit be prepared. Ever since 1972 when we first stood up to you, we’ve been aware of your motives. Now that we know that there are other people in the world who are willing to help us, we no longer want you to come to Rongelap.
NA: sc
cc: Hon. Gary Hart, U.S. Senate
Hon. Phillip Burton, U.S. House
Hon. Kurt Waldheim, Secretary-General, United Nations
Hon. Ataji Balos, Congress of Micronesia
Source: Marshall Islands Document Collection, US Department of Energy
Appendix 5
Marshallese Medical Records in Hands of Gensuikin, July 27, 1976
Robert Conard’s dispatch below seems to validate Nelson Anjain’s concern that interest in the medical affairs of the Marshallese people revolved around tightly controlled record keeping. Most significantly, the letter discloses an alliance formed between those who were exposed to radiation through nuclear bombs and those exposed through nuclear weapons testing.
July 27, 1976
Dr. James L. Liverman
Assistant Administrator for Environment & Safety
Division of Biological and Environmental Research
Energy Research and Development Administration
Washington, D.C. 20545
Dear Jim,
On July 26th a Mr. Murakami, reporter for the Japanese newspaper Asahi in Washington, D.C. called about a story he had received from Japan that some 66 of our Marshallese medical records had been copied and were in the hands of the leftist anti A-bomb group (Gensuikin) in Japan. It was his opinion that they would get a doctor or doctors to review them (presumably in criticism of our examinations) to be used at the anniversary meetings of the Hiroshima bomb next month. I asked how they had gotten the records and he suggested that it may have happened in conjunction with the recent visit to Japan of the two Rongelap young men though he also thought Japanese from that group may have visited the Marshall Islands. I told him we had nothing to hide, but were disturbed about the unethical nature of obtaining the records. I also said that the records in the Marshall Islands were not complete but that we had much more extensive records on all individuals on our examination list at Brookhaven. I answered several questions for him concerning our findings and treatment of the Rongelap people and outlined our examination programs (annual surveys, semi-annual hematology checks and quarterly visits by our resident physician stationed at Kwajalein). He asked why Japanese were barred from visiting the Islands. I told him the only incident I know of was the aborted visit of a Japanese “medical” team (mostly reporters) that had occurred in 1971 due to lack of proper credentials. I told him we had had Drs. H. Ezaki and I. Kumatori from Japan visit us on past surveys and suggested he contact them or the Radiation Effects Research Foundation if he wished to get bona fide Japanese medical opinions about our surveys.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr. LeRoy Allen at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and request that he let us know about any Japanese publicity which may pertain to this matter.
RAC: im
cc: Dr. LeRoy R. Allen
Dr. Bond
Dr. Cronkite
Source: Marshall Islands Document Collection, US Department of Energy
Appendix 6
Memorandum on Iraqi Use of Chemical Weapons, November 1, 1983
In October 1983 Iran began pressing for a UN investigation into Iraq’s use of chemical weapons. US cables from this time period indicate personnel knew about Iraq’s “almost daily use” of CW against Iranians and Kurds, and sought to deal with the problem behind the scenes prior to an official address by the UN. The cable below states immediate intervention is needed in order to maintain credibility regarding US policy “to halt CW use whenever it occurs.”
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
November 1, 1983
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
S/S
TO: The Secretary
FROM: PM—Jonathan T. Howe
SUBJECT: Iraqi Use of Chemical Weapons
We have recently received additional information confirming Iraqi use of chemical weapons. We also know that Iraq has acquired a CW production capability, primarily from Western firms, including possibly a U.S. foreign subsidiary. In keeping with our policy of seeking to halt CW use wherever it occurs, we are considering the most effective means to halt Iraqi CW use including, as a first step, a direct approach to Iraq. This would be consistent with the way we handled the initial CW use information from Southeast Asia and Afghanistan, i.e., private demarches to the Lao, Vietnamese and Soviets.
As you are aware, presently Iraq is at a disadvantage in its war of attrition with Iran. After a recent SIG meeting on the war, a discussion paper was sent to the White House for an NSC meeting (possibly Wednesday or Thursday this week), a section of which outlines a number of measures we might take to assist Iraq. At our suggestion, the issue of Iraqi CW use will be added to the agenda for this meeting.
If the NSC decides measures are to be undertaken to assist Iraq, our best chance of influencing cessation of CW use may be in the context of informing Iraq of these measures. It is important, however, that we approach Iraq very soon in order to maintain the credibility of U.S. policy on CW, as well as to reduce or halt what now appears to be Iraq’s almost daily use of CW.
Drafted: PM/TMP: JLeonard
11/01/83: ph. 632-4814
WANG #2485P
Clearances: PM/TMP: PMartinez
PM/P — RBeers
PM/RSA — PTheros
NEA — DTSchneider
P — AKanter
NEA/ARN: DLMack
INR/PMA: DHowells
Source: National Security Archive
Appendix 7
Open Letter to Africa, December 12, 2011
On December 7, 2011, during the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma delivered a video message aimed at the international delegation: “Today I’m happy to bring you the good news about the complete collapse of the global warming movement and the failure of the Kyoto process…. For the past decade, I have been the leader in the United States Senate standing up against global warming alarmism…. You should know that global warming skeptics everywhere wish we could be with you celebrating the final nail in the coffin on location in South Africa.” Inhofe is the minority leader of the Environment and Public Works Committee. His top campaign contributors include Koch Industries (oil, chemicals, and forest-derived products); Murray Energy (coal); Devon Energy (oil and gas); Contran Corporation (chemicals, metals, and radioactive waste disposal); and Robison International (lobbyists for defense, nuclear energy, GE, and IBM).