wa A 5 December letter from Hans Bethe to Bradbury discusses the question of
atmospheric testing and
in particular notes Bethe's recent conversation with
President Kennedy and Dr. Seaborg.
Bethe still feels that the US has a
considerable propaganda advantage in the eyes of the world since they haven't: L
done any testing other than underground and that, where he does not consider
atmospheric fallout very important, many people do,
the atmosphere our propaganda advantage
and as soon as we test in
will be lost.
He feels that, contrary
to the extended series proposed by the NSC committee on Atmospheric testing
policy undFé Seaborg, the US should make a real effort to avoid atmospheric
testing or at least restrict it to an absolute minimum..
this opinion
as his recommendation to President Kennedy.
Bethe has presented
Bethe expresses
his opinion to Bradbury on the question of holes versus tunnels for underground
testing and states that "it seems to me for once that LRL has a better method".
There are. some interesting marginal remarks addressed to this opinion.
He
feels that the method of getting samples radiochemically from the tunnel
reasonably soon after the explosion is very useful and feels that Los Alamos
should adopt the same methods and in time would probably improve on them.
Briefly, Bethe stresses that he feels that even underground testing in difficult
and takes a great deal of time and money that we should expend this time and
money rather than go to the atmosphere and he addresses himself to a number of
questions in relation to underground testing.
that perhaps we should
One of these is a recommendation
look to an additional geographical area such as West
Virginia to alleviate certain problems in NTS and also increase the capability
of the overall national undergraound testing system.
As for doing certain
effects tests in the air, Bethe feels that certain of the information desired
can be calculated from the JI tests of
1958 and much of the remainder is not
really vital and that he would have to be convinced that there is any
justification for air testing.
sufficient
to
nyDave Anthony of DMA on
The first item is a 5 Decembr 61 letter from Froma
Queen
FY-62 as a result of the test resumption.
the subject of LASL manning and costs for
am costs and is broken down into five
The statement is for the so-called 03 progr
categories:
D 7-90.
Weapons R & D, VELA, TEST, EQUIPMENT, AND SECON
The bulk of
ns R & D with over 1300 people and
the personnel and dollars are assigned to Weapo
over $36,000,000.
split fairly equally
Only 82 other personnel are noted which are
se thexe they are really the same
betweprn VELA and TEST and it is stated that becau
two categories it is a high arbitrary
people dividing their effort between these
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