rm mw
mod
-2.
Mtg. 1203
Mr, Strauss said that the Commission was under considerable
Exec. Sess.
pressure from the press to comment on the Japanese announce-
5/29/56
ment.
Consequently, he had suggested a statement to the
effect that tests were continuing, their number and occurrence
were matters of military security, and that the Commission
would not customarily announce a test without some particular
reason,
This was submitted to the Department of Defense where
objections were raised, and no statement was
made.
Mr. Strauss added that he did not believe the matter
to be one for Department of Defense jurisdiction and although
the proper moment had passed for such a statement, he would
contact the Secretary of Defense about the matter to prevent
similar instances.
Be; rn
During further discussion concerning the announcement of
ey Sess,
shots at Operation REDWING, Mr. Strauss said the Commission
had no specific policy on the subject, and repeated that the
immediate question stemmed from newspaper inquiries concerning
the Japanese announcement.
He believed there was no obligation
to announce specific shots, since the USSR neither announces
its shots nor responds to U. S., U.K., and Japanese statements concerning detection of USSR shots.
In response to the Chairman's request for other opinions on
the matter, Mr. Murray said he believed it would be wiser to
announce the larger shots, since their detection would not