4 Kingdom experts has been reached at Bermuda to govern the use of the Christmas Island if it should be available in connection with the U.S. atomic weapons tests. He requests that pending further communication with the British that these two gentlemen review the draft statement of principles and advise Mr. Farley of their concurrence of their agencies or of any, additional changes which appear desirable. The document is entitled’ Statement of Principles - Use of Christmas Island in Connection with United States Atomic Weapons Tests and is dated, Bermuda, 12/21/61. The statement states that Christmas Island would be used only in connection with a test program of agreed general nature and purposes which would use either airdrops or balloon shots and that the U. S. would have responsibility for control of the various aspects of the tests including their selection, scheduling and timing and the application of safety rules. The only direct position for the United Kingdom would be that the Base Commander would be a member of the safety committee. The UK government will take steps to assure the availability of such portions of the island and surrounding safety zones as are necessary. The U. S. may construct buildings and facilities as deemed necessary at their own expense with the approval of major facilities and buildings coming from the UK Base Commander. The UK would assist in providing security pro- tection at Christmas Island. The U. S. in accordance with existing agree- ments for cooperation will furnish or otherwise make available to the UK detailed information concerning the tests making use of Christmas Island. Further the U. S. would be responsible for dealing directly with any claims due to loss or damage caused by such tests. Finally, all these awmancamanta rnd ha madAn witrhawst Amxyangiudine A RR Ea eV ee pa PE +r att 2r ee ad Kata nnte ate hts WO fplaame Yaad to sovereignty over Christmas Island. A 28 Dec. memo from Col. Banks to Gen. Betts covers briefly some of the items discussed with Bill Ogle of LASL with Gen. Starbird present on 27 Dec. 61. The question of the availability of Jarvis Island was raised and it was pointed out that although this was presently being considered by the AEC and appeared to offer no problem to the Department of State, that actual approval had not yet been received. It was confirmed that only one shot, a surface shot, was planned for Jarvis. Ogle noted that so little is known of electromagnetic effects that LASL planned to make EM measurements on the surface shot at Jarvis. The status of negotiations for Christmas Island was discussed with Ogle emphasizing that even if it could not be used for shots, it would be most helpful as a base for sampler aircraft. The limitation that no barge shots could be fired from Christmas Island was of considerable concern to Ogle,who pointed out that ships could be located as far as 10 miles from shore and that he was pretty confident that contamination would go out to sea and that other problems could be taken care of. In subsequent discussion after this meeting, Col. Anderson of DMA pointed out that barge shots would be permissible if conducted off shore so that the island contamination could be avoided. Dr. Ogle felt that it would be desirable for the U. S. Hydrographic people to measure the water currents around Christmas Island since such measurements had never been made. Ogle advised that there was a very real problem being encountered by the military in finding ships other than the CVS appropriate for airdrop support. The Joint Task Force, it was noted, has asked &&%Shelton , of LRL to put together a safety committee with representatives from the ™Ve different laboratories and DASA and other appropriate organizations to consider such problems as blast, fallout and tsunamis and be an advisory group