ke
yp
w
pA:
a
CONDITION OF EXPOSED JAPANESE FISHINMON
The crew of the fishing vessel FURURYU MANU apparently are suffering
from exposure to radiouctivity.
It is to be regretted that their
dlinéss say have been the result of the position of the vessel in
| near proximity to the Pacific Proving Grounds during the current test
' geriese
Imeediately following press reports of exposure of the crew,
all medical facilities of the Far East Comuand were placed at the
disposal of the Japanese for treatment of the 23 crewmen reportedly
injured. As evidence of the good faith of this offer, 21 of the
patients were flow from Yaigu to Tokyo in U.S. transport aircrafte
In addition, at the request of the AEC, the facilities, equipment,
and medical staff of the Atomic Bo.» Casualty Commission were offered
to the Japanese by the Dircctor of the rroject. Subsequently, our
Anbassador at Tokyo mace further offers ot ~ssistance both in terms
of scientific counsel and medical examination cnd treatment.
The
record clearly demonstrates that the welfare of tie patients has been
and continues to be of primes interest to the United States.
Despite repeated offers of assistance on the part of United States
medical authorities, and repeated assurances that these offers would
be accepted, thorough medical examination of the patients by Ue Se
physicians has not been permitted. Hence we are coupelled to rely
almost exclusively on Javanese sources for fragmentary medical data
concerning the patients. On the other hand, the Japanese did accept
our offer to analyze urine sanples of the patients for the possible
presence of irmortant radioactive materials.
The r.sults of these
analyses in and of thensclves are inconclusive as to the over-all
condition of the patients. Comolete data essential to dlarnosis and
prognosis have been requested but have not been recciveds
For your further information, the 236 Marshallese inhabitants of the
atolls nearby the Pacifie Proving Grcund who were exposed to radioactive fall-out arpear to be in no danger of seri:us permanent after
i |
erfectse \_As soon as it was anparent that these people were exsosed
to radioactive fall-out, they were evacuated to the U.S. Naval station
at Kwajalein where care was immediately provided by the U.S. Navye
In addition, a team composed of medical experts from the AEC, the
U.S. Army and Navy
yas promtly formed and sent to the forwartl prea...
{
to assure the bests allable medical attention and Sires”The welfare’
and continued well being of these people will remain a matter of vital
interest to the United Statcse
ANCES
US DAS
I
we
3, 195)
May
w
EM: HCBro
Carreras 7
DOE AS
STATUS VERIFIED
BY iy
1,
KguteDATE BUNS So
oe
‘cottectionDa
rox. 2-18-3
bg36
A a 4FT Wes
}
ey
I> -1
TAN
= ARCHIVES