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This document consists of
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4
ENCLOSURE "A"
UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C.
October 23,
Dear Mr.
1951
LeBaron:
In response to the suggestion made in your letter of 19
september 1951, the Commission will be happy to discuss with you
at any time the factors which led to our conclusion that a
thermonuclear device will not be veady for testing prior to the
Winter of 1952-1953.
We can, however, add little to the infor-=..° i:
mation supplied py Dr. Bradbury when he addressed the Committee
on September 13, 1951.
To the extent that Fall is on to Winter, the present plan
“A -speelal group.
“has been established at Los. Alamos charged with the coordination
of all the technical tacks essential to the preparation of a
thermonuclear device for the test in the Fall of 1952.
In addition, |
the American Car and Foundry Company is undertaking the engineering
design of the weapon and fabrication of the less unique parts of
the actual device.
It is
our view that the proposal to design,
fabricate and test a full seale model in one year's time is a
truly ambitious undertaking and is indicative of the senseof
urgency attached by the Commission and its contractors to the
determination of the feasibility of a thermonuclear bomb.
.
The matter of a very high yield weapon was covered in a
memorandum of 9 October from the Director of Military Application.
While it is not possible at this time to set a date for testing
this weapon, we would hope to include it in the next operation to
be carried out in the Eniwetok arca.
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Sincerely yours,
228E 5998)
UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
Summer T. Pike
Acting Chairman
m™
Robert
LeBaron
Chairman, Military Liaison Committee
to the Atomic Energy Commission
REY]
AUTHORITY: AR
Honorable
3
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