Japenese apprchensions over the posibility of leng ronge
rediclogiesl. contamination were very similer to these we en-

ecuntered in the United States as a result of NPG operations.

A difference in Jepan is due to the fact that none, if any, of
the counting equipment is calibrated, Gf tubes are used without shields,

and under ccnditions where the backgrcund count is apt to be highly v2ricble.
This, ccupled with the fact thet they do not know the background activities

of such things as soil and biological materials, mzkes it very difficult
to evaluate the reports. Nxny of the rcports of "ash" felling in vericus
parts of Japzn ere undoubtedly dust or soot falls that occur normally in
any industrial crea from time to time.

feputable scientists have examined

samples of potassium~rich soil end have reported their date is gress

counts without any reference to norm2l soil background.

.

For this reason

I find it very difficult to take serious the frequent public report of

50 to 100 counts per minute for the unspecified size of szmples reported
from time to time,

ft my conference with the Japan scientists end government officials
on March 2h, I explained the procedures we use in the Stetes for
mecsuring fallout. I urged them to use similar procedures for the
sake of uniformity and offered to loan them the equipment we used. The
secncd eager to ceccpt and I requested ) sets of equipment which has.

since arrived from the States,

Hsvever, since the arrival of this

‘equipnent, I nave deleyed giving it to the Japanese because in their
present state of mind little gasd could come of it.

I do telicve,

however, thet when the present confusion subsides, it will be useful

for the Jccancse to maintain a fallcut monitoring network end I thjprk
we should cocperate with them to the fullest extent.

In a conference with Dr, Kobayoshi on March 26, IT informed nim of”

my conversation vith Dr. Bugher end his offer in behelf of

Energy Cormission to provide financial suppart for mrrine t
0
0

Studies directed et the long range contemineticn of the Fs

cr

Kobeyoshi, through his interpretor, expressed his ayprecis
r
offer but did not pursue the matter further and has not appreacned me

ho

oo

co fellcut on the Japenese islrsnds thers:lves, it is to
he position of these islinds in roictioan to ¢
ting is such that the fussian testing progicn is cp

mo ch ch ct

z

be rentccets

VU ue

since,

3

ar

ut then events in the Marshalls or Nevada.
‘ye

Estimating the “hole Eody Dose
I d:utt that it will be possible to mike a satisfactory estic
either the Esta or Gerna dose the fishcormen received. “Ye know th2
esh fell in such quantities that the deck of the ship became vhite,

there wos sufficient moterial to develop visible footprints.

(nfo

this is the limit of our informztion on how ruch ssn fell end bh
it remained on the snip, The fishermen washed the decks in order to remove
“nin
the ash and according to their reports their washing was effective.
the vessel errived in Yaizu much of whet remained vas renoved.

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