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WASHINGTON235, D. C.
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
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UNITED STATES
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REPOSITORY MAKA -—_ f4RK
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BY Sew Dew Laie
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COLLECTION
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30x No.
Dear Mr. President:
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CLASS) FIEN
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On January 29, 1958, I wrote informing you of our plans for
nuclear testing in calendar year 1958 and requested authority
to expend the nuclear materials involved. The major series
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contemplated at that time, and at present, was Operation HARDTACK
to be conducted in the Pacific beginning in April. A secondary
small series of relatively low yield underground shots called
Operation MILLRACE was planned for conduct in the Nevada Test
Site during the fall of 1958.
Certain safety firings, from
which no significant nuclear yield is expected, were to be fired
at the Nevada Test Site as needed during the year. By indorsement dated January 31, 1958, you approved conduct of the HARDTACK
program and the spring safety firings and the expenditure of
nuclear materials required, but withheld approval of the MILLRACE
operation pending further consideration. Also, on May 1, 1958,
you approved HARDTACK-ARGUS, a project to be conducted by the
Department of Defense as an adjunct to Operation HARDTACK.
The planned HARDTACK operation as already approved by you
involved 20 scheduled laboratory diagnostic shots, 5 scheduled
Department of Defense shots for the observation of weapons
effects,
the firing of a reduced fission device for demonstration
to U.N. observers and the possible firing of two laboratory
"contingent shots,"' Firing of these latter two would depend on
the outcome of certain other shots in the series.
Since January 31,
fully in Nevada,
two safety shots have been conducted success-
Also, and as already reported orally to you,
the Pacific series was initiated with a first nuclear firing
on April 28. A total of 15 nuclear shots had been fired as of
June 10th. Several of the new devices have produced very disappointing results and, because of the importance of the weapon
programs involved, it is highly desirable that follow-up tests
be included in HARDTACK. Also, as a result of recent weapon
research activity within the laboratories and in response to
a special request from the Department of Defense as to the need
for early development of specified systems, other selected shots
should be added to the Pacific program,
Therefore, we propose to:
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