This paper is the fourth in a series of reports on the Fukuryu Maru
No. 5 Incident.
Two of the previous reports dealt only with medical aspects;
while the third report (by Mr. Merril Eisenbud) dealt with the monitoring
of ships, cargoes and crews, and also more with the radiation chemistry and
nuclear physics as they pertained to the incident.
This fourth report deals
with the human element as evidenced by the poor rapport between the American
and Japanese teams.
This in no small pert was due to the rantings of the
hysterical sensation-seeking, irresponsible, sometimes mendacious Japanese
press.
These four reports must be read as a unit; to take one separately
would give a false impression of what transpired.
The American team was truthful, trustful, and terribly naive.
The
leaders of this team represented years of training and experience in the
finest medical schools and research institutions of the United States.
It
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was inherent in their training that matters of science had to be dealt with
openly and honestly.
They were obviously not skilled in chicanery and
distortion.
“
The deteriorétion of relationships between the Americans and the .
Japanese can best be followed against the background of newspaper reports,
public utterances of Japanese investigators, resumé of bi~national conferences, and selections from the American team's diaries.
However, this
portion of the entire episode was played against a backdrop of much more
political tinge; such factors as the purging of Japenese scientists by
SCAP, the stagnation of Japanese medicine, the founding of the Japanese
KIH (National Institute of Health), ABCC in Jepen, the return to scientific
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