BS Pe a
PROPOSED
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND CHAIRMAN, AEC
As a part of Operation HARDTACK certain missiles with nuclear
warheads will be fired from Johnston Island, an isclated land mass
in the Central Pacific Ocean,
These firings are necessary for the
development of s.itable weapons for the defense of the United States
and the free world.
The missiles to be fired will be of limited (less than 200 miles)
range and mst be launched from a land mass,
To avoid all possibility
of danger to inhabited areas, it has been decided that these firings
should be conducted from Johnston Island.
This island is located
some 650 statute miles southwest of the nearest inhabited island of
the Hawaiian chain, and some 900 statute miles from the nearest other
inhabited island.
Johnston Island is in an area in which sea and air
travel and fishing are very light, and is therefore best suited for
a Putox
ep’Chez
these firings,
meee have 20% been
-the schedule for
tene they are firings planned from Johnston Island
.
avee
for these reasons,
At an appropriate time a temporary danger area will be established
oe
for as limited a period as is possible,
249OI-Y4UG2G.3-~149