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UNITED STATES _
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C..
duly 31, 1950
My dear Mr. Secretary:
The Atomic Energy Commission is aware through our association with the Military Liaison Committee of some of the diffi-
culties that are arising in the Department of Defense with regard
to supporting the atomic weapons tests scheduled for Eniwetok in
the spring of 1951 (Operation GREENHOUSE).
We are informed fur-
ther that in discussing a continental test site as a supplement
or alternative for Eniwetok, the question has been raised whether
large scale tests may be dispensed with at this time,
It is the
purpose of this memorandum to inform you briefly the reasons why
such tests are a vital part of the atomic weapons program.
The test program planned for Operation GREENHOUSE has three
aspects of cutstanding importance:
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(1) It has an immediate bearing on the quality of
the United States stockpile of atomic bombs;
(2) It 1s intended to develop an important body of
information on the blast and radiological effects of
atomic weapons;
(3) It is expected to make a direct and significant
contribution to our understanding of the technical and
economical feasibility of a thermonuclear weapon, which
is now inadequate.
of these bombs will have néwnuclear configurations which, ‘in combination with newly designed non-nuclear components,
gonsiderable extension of the known weapons art. |
will marka.
oo. Vance of this latter bomb is thatit maybe carried by smaller
aircraft than are required to carry the present stockpile weapon,
ana for the same reason will be better adapted for use in the most
‘promising guided missiles now under development.
It should therefore increase the flexibility of use of atomic weapons, as in
tactical operations in the field.
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