SoNREbaNErieee ENCLOSURE UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION oo oo . April -9, 1954 -" MEMORANDUM Lo TO : John C, Bugher, MD. FROM : Merril Eisenbud SUBJECT: - , CONTAMINATION OF THE FUKURYU MARU AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN JAPAN: PRELIMINARY REPORT ° I have recorded some of the observations made during my visit to Japan to assist in the various problems arising out of the mishap to the Fukuryu Maru. I am sending this along to” you at this time because you will no doubt want a preliminary report prior to my return to the States in about 2 weeks. . - This memorandum is intended to augment the report that Dr, Morton will submit to you. I have attempted to limit myself to factors other than those associated with the clinical phases of the problem, with which Dr, Morton's groupare concerned, ‘ . DHE INCIDENT The mishap which befell the Fukuryu Maru became known to - tie Embassy and the world on March 16 through reports in the Japanese press, This was two days after the 100-ton fishing ~ vessel had returned to its home port of Yaizu. The facts of the. ineident, as determined by the Japanese Foreign Office and com- ianicated (1) to the Ambassador, are as follows: (1) The course of the vessel from its departure on January 27 to its return to Yaizu on March 14 is plotted in Figure No, 1, At 0412 hours on March 1 a streak of light reported by the crew is believed to identify the time of detonation, The vessel's position was approximately 11° 53-1/4%! north and 166°. 34-1/4' east. Tnis position Is only a few miles from the easternmost limit of the Marshall Islands danger area in effect at that a cime. (1) Aide Memoire of March 27. siaiiapteta a wee wel (alain tliat . Sect deeiieenntiianioelat . scularlinbinliaiannialgs 2 2 ibe