2. Should the shot be delayed: Wo additional
information would be obtained by delaying the shot and it
would delay information needed for strategic planning; and
finally,
3,
If£ the shot is fired, can we provide an effective
system to warn and control all persons in the flash area?
He considered this possible since most persons were located
on 12 atolls, on some of which we have weather stations,
The Commissioner of the Trust Territory has an excellent
relationship with
islanders and could obtain their cooperation
and the airlines operating in the area would be cooperative,
There would, of course, be the problem of controlling casual
shipping but this should be minimal,
therefore were:
a.
His recommendations
To proceed with plans to fire the high
altitude shot at 250,000 ft. elevation on April 16.
b. To proceed with plans to fire the U.S.
satellite during the week of March 24,
General Starbird added that there is some precedent for control
measures such as would be required, since the AEC does stop cars
on the Nevada roads outside the test site and turns people away
from the test flash.
He thought that, with ingenuity and good
planning, we can assure adequate protection but this does not
guarantee that no one would be injured.
Mr. Strauss commented that even though an intensive radar search
was set up for casual shipping, we cannot avoid the possibility that
one man in the area is not warned or ignores the warning and the
unhappy fact that that man is not represented in this decision.
An important consideration, however, is that we are concerned here
with possible injury_to one or perhaps more men in developing defense
measures to save the lives of millions of men,
Although General Luedecke is discussing the problem with Trust
Territory officials this week-end and wiil then take it up with the
Department of State, Mr. Strauss said he inteded to discuss it with
Secretary Dulles today.
Vvog .
~200-
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