ARQ ITE aRyrp TRAST CS PE epee wwToca lhe“LA 18. Tf the decision were made to use Taongi it would be necessary to acquire occupancy and use of the atoll for conducting nuclear experiments, as is now the case for Eniwetok and Bikini. The AEC does not have ownership or jurisdiction over these atolls; by Executive Order of the President, the Administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands rests with the Secretary of the Interior. In an exchange of letters in 1951 the Depart- ment of the Interior recognized the AEC's interest in the Eniwetok/ Bikini area and agreed that conditions satisfactory to the continuity of the testing program would be maintained there. To obtain similar rights at Taongi it would be necessary to obtain the concurrence of the Departments of Interior and State, and following this it would be necessary for the President to close the area for security reasons and notify the Security Council of the United Nations of this action, as was done in the case of Fniwetok in 1947 and Bilcini in 1953. 19. Notification to the United Nations and subsequent publicity given to the proposed use of Taongi for nuclear experi- ments would give rise to a number of problems in the public information and international fields. Public acceptance of the use of Taongi may be aided by carefully timed announcements, eoordinated with the Departments of State and Interior and the Operations Coordinating Board, emphasizing the value of U. S. weapons tests to the defense of the United States and the free world and the precautions used to prevent fall-out from harming people in any area of the world. <A comprehensive public info- mation plan would have to be devised for this purpose and to combat expected propaganda on the part of the unfriendly nations. In addition, publicity on Taongi would lead to speculation on our future test plans. For these reasons, it appears desirable - 17 - Appendix "A"