APPENDIX "B" GENERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE to the uU. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Washington 25, D, C. April 9, 1954 Mr. Lewis L, Strauss, Chairman U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington 25, D. C. Dear Mr. Strauss; This letter is the first section of the usual rerort of the Chairman of the General Advisory Committee to the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission which follows a meeting of the GAC. This letter covers the discussion of the GAC at its meetings on Marck: 31, April 1 and 2, 1954, of the staff papers and recommendaticns with respect to the Nevada Proving Grounds (AEC 141/22 and 141/23; Report of the Committee to Study the NPG, dated Feb. 1, 19543 Report of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine). The General Advisory Committee has already made its views on the subject of weapon testing known to the AEC in the report of the Chairman of the GAC dated February 10, 1953. paragreph reeds as follows: The relevant "The level of effort in test programs has been increased greatly in recent years; this has undoubtedly been a very Significant factor in the weapon progress which has been achieved. We feel that the test programs are technically very desirable and @re extremely useful in the Comuission's program of weapon develcpment. There are indications that, even in its present advanced status, our actual test capapility may not be adequate for all of the experiments which it would be valuable to carry out; and, hence, we have considered whether this capability should be increased. Since the results of the test programs @re certain to effect tre optimum composition of the stockpile with respect to weapen types, and since the information will be most useful before the stockpile increases to the point that weepon refabricetion becomes @n unménageeble task, we ere led to févor an increese in the weapon testing capabilities in the near future." The GAC wishes to reaffirm the views previously expressed with respect to the importance of tests of nuclear weapon design as a necessary means of progress. The GAC further strongly endorses the recommendations in the staff papers with respect to the NPG. However, the GAC does not believe that the number of tests should be limited to 10 per year as suggested, but that the nunber ~f&- Aunendix "Bp"