~25~
technical judgment that something practical is likely to emerge.
Such a.
development, e.g, the abundant production of neutrons and of tritium as
well as power, would certainly fall under high dlassifidation,
is 4llogical not to classify the project,
Hence it
He mentdoned that a group at
Cambridge would like to work in the field if it were declassified,
Dr.
Fisk proposed, for discussion, that there was much to gain by having
the subject unclassified until something emerged which promised to pay
off;
Dr: Buckley expressed a similar view, (To classify it at present
would be like classifying space ships.) Dr. Wigner observed that it is
easy to keep the cat from coming out of the bag if there is no cat.
Dr,
von Neumann suggested that the subject could bekept under wraps to about
the same extent that reactor technology is.
Dr. Libby suggested that an-
opinion be obtained from the Senior Responsible Reviewers.
Dr, Johnson
indicated that he intended to recommend Secret classification, without
compartmentalization.
Dr. Fisk suggested that basic research in the .
field be declassified liberally as it appears.
.
Dr. Rabi inquired as to the meaning of item k (proposed accelerator
Ultra
program) in Mr. Strauss's pre-meeting letter.
Dr. Johnson indicated that
High
Energy
it referred to the proposed action to construct an ultra high energy
r:.tor
strong focussing machine at Brookhaven, and that the intent was to check
Accele-
on whether the recommendations of the staff paper on this subject were in
accord with the GAC's thinking.
The staff paper stated that need exists
for the construction of a 25 bev accelerator at BNL, and proposed that
$2.5° million be provided for this purpose in FY 54, the balance in FY 55.
The BNL schedule provided for completion of the machine in 1959.
Dr. Lit