c.
thi
Such a program would entail emphasizing to the
American
publicmore or less suddenly that the situation is far worge than
they have hitherto realized.
It is not clear what justifipation
fort in the field of public enlightenment.' If such an effort were
conducted in a low key, it might not yield the desired respits.
Moreover, there is no assurance that it could be kept in allow key.
Such a program might be interpreted as a ‘gimmick solu-
tion'. A program of public education should be a normal appect of
governmental leadership.
e.
1
The Panel did not estimate foreign reaction to sich a
program, which might, for example, imply to the rest of the world
that we have suddenly become frightened of an attack by the USSR,
to attack the Soviet Union, and accordingly are preparing
people against counter-attack."
Discussion of Possible Difficulties
3-
= met
:
kn ae A eea —— ee 8 ree
&
Largy)
Before proceeding to the recommendations called for By
NS¢ Action
No. 1665-b, I propose to discuss the possible difficulties set forth above.
Paragraph 6-a:
The possible extent of negative effects ré¢sulting
from widespread group discussions of the kind recommended by
the Panel
is, of course, a matter of judgment and opinion until after spch discussions have taken place. I cannot advance too strongly my pwn view,
which coincides generally with that of the Panel, that full and free
discussion is a healthy thing, and that fears and negative atpitudes
flourish more freely with respect to matters that are little pr imperfectly understood. I believe very firmly that nuclear weaponb effects
will be increasingly discussed, regardless of the attitude of] the Government, and that we need to fear the results of such discussfions only
if they have an uninformed base, or are conducted under auspifes that
are trying to sell a point of view. The desirability of enconraging
more complete knowledge and understanding, under leadership which is
dedicated to that goal, seems beyond debate.
Paragraph 6-b:
I believe that the Panel, in a perfectly [proper at-
tempt not to claim too much for its idea, has actually under
the contribution that fuller knowledge can make in reducing
While it is true that understanding of nuclear bomb phenomengs
ing from blast and heat, there is a great lifesaving potenttls
understanding of fallout. (To a much more limited extent, kwowledge of
what to do will prevent death and injury even from blast and|heat.)
done
"d.
+
the President would give for the initiation of the 'monumehtal ef-