OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD” WASHINGTON, D. Ca PRELIMINARY REPORT ON OVERSEAS REACTION 0: THE*AEC REPORT ON THE. EFFECISLOF HIGH-YIELD..NUCLEAR -EXPLOSIONS. Summary 1. As of Monday, 21 February, there was little reported reaction in the foreign press and radio to the AEC announcement of 15 February. comment had been reported from the Soviet Union. No In the Soviet Bloc the only direct mention of the announcement was over the East German Home Service. England was the only Western European country which gave sub- stantial coverage. The story was blanketed by the British Government decision to produce H-Bombs. was in Japan. The only sign of widespread press interest Annex "A" summarizes the press treatment as of Monday, February 21. Analysis of Reactions to Date 2. Among the factors bearing on the moderate international public reactinn thus far observed, except for Japan, are: a. The statement was designed to dispel, not to cause hysteria, and to inform rather than te shock. It apparently achieved the purpose for which it was designed. be The basic elements of the report had previously been indicated in official statements or speculated on by United States and foreign com= mentators, and no new factors calculated to cause public dismay were revealed. Ce The public imaginatinn and the speculations of commentators ran so far ahead of fact regarding the long-range effects of radiation rc La.ue! commmpemmtan