7,4 oe MO 724 . FOR RELEASE IN THE SUNDAY PAPERS, OCTOBER 21, 1956 James C. Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President THE WHITE .HOUSE MEMORANDUM FOR _ THE PRESIDENT FROM: ‘Lewis r. Strauss Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission The distinguished and representative group of American scientists whose names are appended to the attached document have notified me that they endorse it in their individual capacities. - wy ay . a The question of the development and testing of nuclear weapons can be divided into two components: first - disarmament, and second - fears of radioactive fallout. . With respect to disarmament, the Administration of President Eisenhower has certainly made, and continues to make, the most vigorous efforts to bring about international agreement on a system of disarmament which would eliminate or reduce the production and testing of nuclear weapons. Until such an agreementis obtained,, with.guarantees which protect the American people and the peoples of the free world, we have no prudent course except to continue the development and testing of the. most modern weapons, of defense, With respect to radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions, the most authoritative information available on this subject is to be foundin the recent study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences. This study was independent of the Government and was generally confirmed by a separate study made by the British Medical Research Council and reported to Parliament. Both studies Concluded that the unavoidable exposure to cosmic rays, normal radioactivity in the soil and.medicaluse ofX-rays very.greatly exceeded the exposure that results, from.thetests of weapons, even assuming such tests are continued into the future at the present rate. atte OL tt Tye Ree et tie ta MROFe, Os eRe weer Sa te a ew Cae et at a ty ew he aoe (OVER) pe A ato