1,

Briefing on Weapons Surveillance and Quality Assurance F rograms* c 2 ‘
é

Colonel Starbird introduced Mr, McRae and Mr, Kraker, who

reported on the respective programs of the Sandia Corporation and of

the Santa Fe Cperations Office for the inspection and surveillance of
atomic weapons and for the assurance of weapons quality. In particular
Mr. McRae described the techniques and procedures which have been
developed to insure, without complete testing, that weapons will operate
under the conditions prescribed by the DOD,
In response to a question by Mr. Murray at the conclusion of this
briefing, Mr, McRae commented on the technical difficulties which had
made it difficult to predict the failure of batteries used in certain fission
weapons, He reported on the status of efforts to develop batteries which
would not be subject to failure from similar causes,
After a brief discussion of other questions concerning the inspection

and quality assurance programs, Mr, Strauss thanked Mr, Kraker and Mr.
McRae for their presentation and the Commission went into Executive
Session.
2.

Executive Session**

a. Visit by Mr. Perrin
b, Discussion with British Representative Concerning
Project SUNSHINE
c. Test of '‘Clean'' Thermonuclear Weapon

d. Meeting of the National Security Council
e, Discussion with Sir William Penney
f. Approval of Minutes
g. AEC 385/123 - General Counsel Opinion on MVGC Contract
*No Transcript was made for this part of the meeting,
**Separate minutes and a separate transcript for this part of the meeting
have been circulated.
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