GENERAL ADVISORY COMMLTTER to the U. S, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION | Washington 25, D. CG, April 10, 1954 Mr, Lewis L, Strauss, Chairman U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington 25, D, C. Dear Mr, Strauss: Herewith is the summary report of the 39th Meeting of the General Advisory Committee, held in Washington on March 31, April 1 and 2, 1954. All members were in attendance. . We wish to thank the Commission and its staff for their cooperation in. supplying background. information for the subjects which we considered, and in arranging for the attendance of staff and of Drs. Froman and Mark of the Los. Alamos Laboratory,who greatly aided the atdeliberations of,our : : fee Committeeat thismeeting,J Oa) 4 rt.) prota+ta TarOT eee Onap aa ae ae atray P a ~3 aric = oO.pyr aRBee Fre um thie prooLemis anqd O “ee at Li thium& —— included in these “deliberations were discussions of the problemsraised by pre~initiation in thermonuclear weapons; (3) the problems of the Research Division in a number of specific aspects which willbe detailed below; (4) ways and means of answering the question which the General. Manager directed to us on the subject of the boiling water reactor, — We also discussed at length the use of the Nevada Proving Grounds for further tests, Our conclusions in this matter are being forwarded to you ina»Beparateletter. sssinetNS Sects end Z “SRRAaFeshamansgleRAGANODdalanneAm ee itt DRECOE ree Be attaee ate ote TS ae aas ~; ie D- hesetremendously successfultests po-larete-sttevyiatesomeof theconcern expressed in the last report of the CamLes 6e@Tat regard to the thoroughgoing change which seemed to be necessary in the materials requirements as a result of the DOD request, We now feel as a result of our meeting that our objectives can be met without any serious disruptions of the main parts of the program. Wes hope that the Commission will find some appropriate way to express the debt ‘which we all owe to the Los Alamos Laboratory for their brilliant achievements in the defense of our country.

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