76 DASA 2019-2 ROOT: Yes. This had a greater political effect because Hiroshima and Nagasaki were in the context of war—to that extent understandable, This was completely unwarranted—and the U.S. reactions seemed so callous—not even, I was told repeatedly, saying we were sorry, or taking any responsibility, Furthermore, it played into a tense political situation, The fishermen came back two days before the Diet was to ratify MSA. DUNHAM: What was the MSA? ROOT: Mutual Security Agreement—after Korea. It was terribly important that Japan become a responsible member of the organization, The Yoshida cabinet was entirely favorable to the U.S, andit looked as if there would not be too much opposition, Then the fishermen arrived. Demonstrations flared up everywhere, You had the trade unions, three million strong, protesting. The cabinet tried to counteract the anti-American feeling but a tidal wave of anger inun- dated the country. It was just dirninishing when Koboyamadied. This was portrayed as a radiation death, FREMONT-SMITH: and the hepatitis? This is the fisherman that had the transfusion ROOT: Yes, Japanese doctors give very small blood transfusions, and Koboyama needed a great many. Timing in Eurcpe was unfortunate, too. At the end of January 1954 Secretary Dulles made his massive deterrent” speech announcing a radica: change in our policy; we had decided that the atomic weapon as a massive deterrent was our shortest cut to peace. In February, Vice-President Nixon stated that we were tired of being dictated to as to time and place, and were going to call our own shots from now on, The NATO countries, Great Britain and the others, were terribly concerned about this. As staging areas they expected anv suck momentous decisions to be the subject of consultations at least. | To cap the political confusion and dismay in Marck, came news of the heavy fallout froin the “Bravo'' Shot. And where did the press get this information? From Tokyo. As you know Tokyo is a very large city. It has representatives from the press of every major country in the world, Suddenly the whole of Europe was flooded with grim | heat ines+and no explanation from the United States. The first ®