-3- eee oe ek ee _¢ : L cereame Oee tee ae ened enmnmaTte Mt Retin wee oN 5) Intelligence The Committee heard an intelligence report concerning the recent series of atomic explosions in the Soviet Union. The information and time available were not sufficient for us to reach a conclusion as to the significance of thése explosions. We did, however, understand that a further analysis of Russian shot data is being made by the Bethe Committee, and we would like to study the report of the additional considerations of this group. . We have” animpression that the Commission's intelligence group has declined in strength and possibly in the closeness of its relations with other intelligénce agencies: In our discussions the opinion was expressed that”thé Commission should_set up a strong intelligence evaluation group. It is essential in our opinion that the technicalevaluation of information in this field be able and comprehensive, andthat it_beeffective at a high working level in the Commission. AN 6) Fall-out The Committee heard from Dr. Bugher a report of the status of Project Gabriel-Sunshine, and from Dr. Herbert Scoville of AFSWP a discussion of weapon effects which included the subject of radioactive fall-out. We continue to bé impressed by the great importance, both short range and long range, of this subject. In the course of the discussions, which included reference to material appearing in the press with respect to civil defense, Lie ce WOH reaches: the view that more information than is currently available to “=“the piblic is urgently needed for purposes of civil defense. We recommend that the flow of such information to the public domain be accelerated. 7) Personnel We are aware that the Commission is currently reviewing its policies and procedures on personnel security and trust that any questions on which our advicé cold Be helvful will be referred to us. Comment on one aspect of our discussions i& appropriate at the presenttime. It was brought out that there is at present a tendency to terminate the clearances of persons not actively connected with the program, including key individuals whose advice or participation may be needed in the future. It was felt that it would be healthy and desirable to maintain the clearance of such persons. 8) Award - As you know, the Committee considered the granting of an award, as provided in the Atomic Energy Act for especially meritorious contributions to atomic energy, to Enrico Fermi. The unanimously affirmative recommendation of the Committee was transmitted to you in ny letter of November 5, 1954, a copy of which is attached.