ENCLOSURE 1 CRITIQUR OF THE REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCTENCES The Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation Based on (1) "A Report to the Public," and (2) "Summary Report." To understand and best evaluate the implications of this report it is important to bear in mind the background of the individual selantists wno made the study and their relation- ship to the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council and to the Government. The NAS-NRC is nov a Government organization. True, it was established by President Lincoln in order to have a distinguished bedy cf ssientists with whem the Government could consult at the time of ths Civil War, On the other hand, it is a self- perpetuating bedy of frae American scientists who control the membership cf the Academy withcut any Government appointments; While varicus Federal agencies may appoint representatives to the various divisicns of the National Research Council (the operating body of the NAS), they serve to bring problems to the Council for advice, and not te control the astions or the opinions of Council, In the case cf this study, the President of the NAS, Dr, Detlev W, Bronk, called together scme 100 American scientists to carry out the study as individuel citizens, While some of the Scientists were Government employees and top advisers to Govern=- ment on scientific matters, they were not acting in these capacities in their participation in the study. The study was undertaken largely as:a result of the concern felt throughout the country following the March 1, 1954 ther- monuclear test explosion at Bikini, as a result of which a number of Marshall Islanders and Japanese fishermen were irradiated by fallout debris from the explosion, Subsequently, a number of scientific bodies in the U.S,:passed resolutions requesting that a study be made of the possible effects on the human race of continued nuclear weapons testing, , NAS In April, 1955, the Rockefeller Foundation provided the NAS with funds for undertaking a very broad study cf the effects of atomic radiation, The subject reports are the final fruits of this study, which will be a continuing cne, Whereas the AKC has always been aware of the possible hazards from fall-out from surface bursts cf atomic weapons (see "Effects of Atomis Weapons", 1952), it had been even more aware of possible hazards to nearby livestock and the public generally from ssrisus accidents which could conceivably oceur to large proce OM ee ape