ATTACHMENT 15

 


                  BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
                   ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC.
                         UPTON, L.I., N.Y.
                        TEL. YAPHANK 4-6262

                           June 10, 1959



Dr. Charles L. Dunham, Director
Division of Biology and Medicine
Atomic Energy Commission
Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Chuck:

Yesterday I went to the Untied Nations in New York and had a
session with Mr. Nucker as you suggested.  It was quite apparent
that he was extremely concerned about the number of people coming
into and out of Rongelap and the disturbing influence resulting
from this.  As you mentioned, he seemed to be less antagonistic
toward our medical surveys that toward the University of
Washington surveys.

It was apparent that the Trust Territory officials do not have a
grasp of the significance and importance of the medical surveys. 
For instance, I was surprised that Mr. Nucker did not appreciate
the fact that the body burdens of the Rongelap people had
increased since their carrying out a scientific experiment using
the Rongelap people as "guinea pigs."  I tried to make our
position in this matter clear and to emphasize the importance of
continuity in our observations of the people for the early
detection of significant change that may be related to radiation
so that they could be treated as soon as possible and that the
scientific value of these studies was extremely important, but
that this was secondary to the former objective.

I told Mr. Nucker that we understood his problems and were
willing to cooperate to as great an extent as possible without
compromising our primary responsibilities.  To this end I
suggested that we might omit the whole-body counts on the next
survey, thus avoiding the necessity of a ship and that we carry
out, with a team of some 8 men, the basic hematological work and
physical examinations.  This could be accomplished by prior
transport of necessary equipment and supplies from Kwajalein via
Trust Territory ship to Rongelap and air-lift of personnel from
Kwajalein to Rongelap at the time of the survey.  Mr. Nucker
indicated that he would like to have Trust Territory medical
personnel participate to make it less obvious that it was an "AEC
medical team."  I readily greed with this and indicated that it
was highly desirable and he promised to furnish us one American
doctor,

REPOSITORY     Washington National Records Center
COLLECTION     32681-6
BOX No.        Box 1
FOLDER




Dr. Charles L.Dunham                         July 10, 1959
                                -2-


either Dr. Macdonald or Mr. Conover, to join the team this year,
thus reducing the number of our personnel from 8 to 7.  He agreed
to help using every way possible in carrying out these plans
based on this limited scope of operation and expressed sincere
appreciation of our willingness to cooperate with him in his
objectives.

     Mr. Nucker was disturbed about the need for the University
of Washington making two trips a year to the island and was most
anxious that their operation also be reduced in scope and
frequency.  I was not familiar enough with the program of the
University of Washington group to take much of a stand on the
issue.  He indicated that, if he was forced into accepting a full
scale program for the University of Washington group, he did not
feel it was fair to me to reduce the scope of our operation and
suggested that I contact you at the end of next week to find out
the end result of all of this.

     On the whole the conference was quite satisfactory and I
think that in the end we each appreciated the other's problems
better, resulting in coordinated efforts on both sides.  I will
delay further planning until I have had a chance to contact you
next week.

     Best regards.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   Bob

                                   Robert A. Conard, M.D.

hlb
cc: Dr. Farr