Carroll L. Wiiscsn
Brig. General James McCormack, Jr.
CONTINUATION OF ENIWETOK DANGER AREA
MAW: JSR
Pricr to the hclding of weapon test at Eniwetok in the Spring of
1948, a danger area was established embracing an area 200nautical
miles east and west and 150 nautical miles north and south, centered
on Eniwetok. The area was established by the State Department
notifying the chiefs of all foreign diplomatic missicns and by the
Atomic Energy Commission requesting the Chief of Naval Operations
and the Air Coordinating Committee to notify mariners and airmen,
and itself notifying the general public thrcugh the medium cf a
press release.
Since our current planning contemplates the re-use of Eniwetck as a
prceving ground,
it is considered desirabie from the Standpoint of
public relations and security to continue in force the danger area
‘ beyond its present date of expiration of December 31,
1948 until
further nctice. At the time of establishing the danger area for
1948, the State Department was not willing to extend the duration
of the prescribed danger area beyond one calendar year. This
limitation was desired by the State Department in order tc avoid the.
international implication that the United States was restricting the
free use of the high seas, and further because the State Department
desired tc avoid pcssibtle adverse international reactions. The State
Department is ncw willing to concur in the indefinite extension in
cint of time of the danger area. Their willingness is based upon
their desire not to invite the attention cf ail nations annually to the
fact that we are using Eniwetok as an atomic weapen preving ground and
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alsc upon the fact that no adverse internsticnal reecticn was
experienced as a result of last year's announcement cf the denger area.
The Military Liaiscn Committee has indicated that the Netional Military
Establishment concurs in the ccntinuence of the danger: area fcr an
indefinite period.
The indefinite extensicn of the danger area is ccncurred in by the
Public and Technical Infcrmaticn Service and the Office cf the General
Counsel.
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It is requested that the Director cf the Division of Military Application
be authorized to proceed with effecting these nuctifications necessary to
the ccntinuance of an Eniwetck danger area teycond December 31, 1948 fer
an indefinite time in the future.
MED TO BE UNCLASSIFIED
AUITRGRITY DOE/SA-20
/rovroee:
CLW - 12-17-48 |//
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BY
D. R. GILSON. DATE 299--ae
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