-k.
Mr. Strauss agreed that a statement of this type would be
reassuring, particularly to the Japanese.
He suggested a
a
&iuft announcement to include the following:
1.
A reference to previous press releases stating
that a test series was underway;
2.
The test series was halfway through to completion;
3.
No shots were of the magnitude of the 1954 series;
4,
The Commission will make no separate announcement
of each shot.
The Commissioners agreed to the proposed statement.
Ltr. to Conmissioners
from Acting
Director,
Division of
Information
Services
6/5/56
In his letter to the Commissioners transmitted with a draft
press release for their approval and/or comment, Mr. Thompson
suggested that the release be issued in response to in-
quiries expected when another detonation became evident outside the Proving Ground.
He believed that this would be
an effective method for making a "sort of self-serving
progress report while not breaking with our policy of not
announcing or confirming any shots other than Lacrosse and
Cherokee,"
The following statement was released to the three wire
services on June 9, 1956.
"The 1956 test series -- the so-called REDWING series --
at the Eniwetok Proving Ground is continuing.
Indi-
vidual tests will not ordinarily be announced or
described.
We have, to date, made good progress with
ee