change such an announcement procedure at a later time. Additionally,
he thought considerable weight should be given to the views of the
intelligence community with respect to such a plan.
Mr. Floberg commented that while he thought there were advantages
in a new policy of announcing all shots, if the intelligence
services had sound reasons for requesting that this not be done,
he would agree to the proposed limitation.
Mr. Graham said that his chief concern was that the AEC might
be accused of wanting to withhold announcement of small shots so
as to avoid talking about detection and that the AEC would then be
in the same status as it was following the controversy over the
range of detection of the Rainier shot. In view of the representations
made by the Intelligence community and primarily CIA, Mr. Graham
said he would accept the proposed procedure if it included a provision
for informing the Joint Committee about the 200 kiloton cut-off
limit and the reasons therefor. General Fields indicated his
understanding that the procedure called for informing the Joint
Committee of these reasons as had been done in previous test
series, but that he would verify this upon return to Washington.
Mr. Strauss observed that in previous tests the Joint Committee
had recognized the need not to announce some shots. Nevertheless,
he asked General Fields to instruct Mr. LaPlante to visit Chairman
Durham on April 28, 1958 and provide him with the background and
the reasons for the procedure.
After discussion, the Commission:
a.
Approved the Joint AEC-DOD Operation HARDTACK Public
b.
Noted that the Joint Office of Test Information
Information Plan (Appendix "A" of AEC 952/46):
authorized under the Plan will issue announcements of all
HARDTACK test detonations having predicted yield of 200
kilotons or higher.~ (Specifications for announcements are
given in Paragraph 6, Page 5, of Appendix "A" of AEC 952/46
and rationale of the yield criterion is discussed in Annex
"A" of Appendix "A" of AEC 952/46);
c. Noted that the projected News Media Observer activity
at the Pacific Proving Ground in connection with the UN
observers will be cavered by a special program which will be
submitted separately for Commission consideration;
- 345 -