nepostrony NARA - College Pack
COLLECTION RG 326 -
5/-S5° Secve Tay
pox no. {23 (WN 326-43 -010]
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UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
Washington 25, D. C.
Tel.
ST 3-8000
Ext. 307
408813
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1956)
STATEMENT BY LEWIS L. STRAUSS, CHAIRMAN,
U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
Following my return from our Eniwetok Proving
Grounds in the Marshall Islands, I have reported to the
President on the results of the current weapons tests
which are now nearing completion.
As a result of this series we have gained
confirmation of important objectives stated by the
President on April 25 just prior to the beginning of the
tests.
At his news conference on that date the President
discussed our nuclear testing program, aimed at the
development of a variety of weapons calculated to meet
a wide range of military usage including defense against
air attack.
He noted that there was also the objective
of making weapons with reduced fallout.
Our tests to date have demonstrated that real
progress has been made with respect to these objectives,
including achievement of maximum effect in the immediate
area of a target with minimum widespread fallout hazard.
It has been confirmed that there are many
factors, including operational ones, which do make it
possible to localize to an extent not heretofore appreciated, the fallout effect of nuclear explosions.
Thus the current series of tests has produced
much of importance not only from a military point of
view but from a humitarian aspect.
We are convinced that mass hazard from fallout
is not a necessary complement to the use of large nuclear
weapons.
71956
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