FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE sonIMIS RATIO WASHINGTON 25, D. C. OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR | Fabrdare p10; F955 Chairman Atomic Energy Commission washington 25, D, oe a etn Cam A an Meas Cc, Dear Admiral Strauss: aq Valder Dv The recent decision not to reTtease your s av this time leaves State and locai Civil Defensa any planning base for protective measures. Many appeared in the press, purporting to give the dai seriously affected areas, but ranging from obse miles radiation was not fatal to the Japanese fis predictions of death and uninhabitable areas man miles from the detonation of a thermonuclear wea increasingly difficult to justify our fatlure to and local Civil Defense planners official data wh give the order of magnitude of the fallout effect There is one point of some importance whic attention in this connection, Under the Federal of 1950, the primary responsibility for civil def the States and their political subdivisions. The program, unlike our military defense program, mus the willingness of State Governors, legislatures, legislative bodies to support it. If we in the F are to provide effective leadership, we must pres facts to the leaders in the States and cities; we their support. | ee fee Honcrable Lewis L. Strauss |, 326 U.S. ATOMIGENERGY Cc COMMISSTDN © "’’-——--- tement on fallout officials lacking tories have nSions of the tions that at 80 ermen, to dire hundreds of m. I find it urnish to State ch will at least deserves ivil Defense Act nse rests with civil defense be built upon Mayors and local deral Government nt convincing cannot compel While I appreciate the delicacy involved i the international situation, and have no desire to argue the point, I feel that it may be possible to find a vehicle for the release of essential data without the dramatic impact that it was feared yo r statement mignt have had around the world. There is attached a copy of the FCDA Advis ry Bulletin which was prepared to be released, with the concurrence of the AEC, at the time your statement was released. Your people ar already familiar with this and have concurred in its contents. I writing now to ask officially that the classification be removed rom any data therein now considered RESTRICTED, in order that i may be circulated to State and local Civil Defense officials. If the Commission agrees to such declassif statement Would be distributed, without any accom release, in the normal manner. I appreciate that such a bulletin will probably be released to the 1t would not attract nearly the concentrated atte be accorded a national release. Furthermore, aga CONFIRMED To ag « BYRAUITHOR: UNCLASSIFIED TY OF DOELAC WE OE ARCHIVES -~2, ation, the nying press he contents of ess locally, but ion that would st the dangers . T = 7,