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The alternative to testing these weapons would necess
ns
be either to stockpile presumably improved but untested weapo
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ile
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ly
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or else to continuemore
lieved far less effective than new available designs.
ro "Oth regard to the importance of these tests in securing
+
information on weapons effects, the principal goals are to provide
data to assist the United States in preparing against atomic bombing and to enable more effective military planning for possible
There is involved
use of atomic weapons by United States forces,
a rather extensive program of structures and instruments, conducted
largely by elements of the Armed Forces, to determine the effects
of blast and radiation.
The Commission understands, but is not
in the best position to speak in detail of, the advantages expected
to accrue to the Armed Forces from these tests; however, we are
clearly aware of the need for information of this sort for use
in preparing the United States against atomic attack.
We believe
that our level of understanding of atomic phenomenology has now
reached the point where it will be most useful to conduct these
physical tests, and we wish to see them conducted as s00n as
possible,
.
With regard to the effect of GREENHOUSE on the thermonuclear
program, large scale tests are essential to rapid progress in the
program which the President directed on January 31 of this year
for determining the feasibility of a thermonuclear weapon, and for
which a supplemental appropriation of $260 million has been requested from the Congress.
It is highiy unlikely that the feasi-
,
bility of the thermonuclear weapon can be provedone way or the .i
other without a series of large scale tests, the First ones of _' «3:
which, having to do with initiating the/radiation;7Should take 4. |.
place at the earliest time permitted by progress~in the Laboratory.
Certainly, without the information which tanbe obtained only
through such tests, the work would continue indefinitely to be
largely theoretical and somewhat diffuse, and the program would
necessarily be slowed. Two different methods of initiating the
thermonuclear reaction are being considered for test in the spring