ANNEX "A" -PO APPRNDIX "A"
RATIONALE OF DETONATION ANNOUNCEMENT CRITERION
1, According to experts,
it 1s possible that all detonations
of the HARDTACK series might be detected outside of the Pa@ific
Proving Ground.
Therefore, the first reaction of those consider-
ing what our policy should be with respect to public announcement
of detonations was to favor announcement of all,
This course,
announced at the start of the serles, would add to whatever
credit might accrue to the U,S, for candor in conduct of its
tests,
It would eliminate the necessity for measures to keep
secure the total number of detonations in the series, a task of
considerable dimensions in view of the large number of persons
having knowledge of the number (around 10,000 in the task force).
Also, it would eliminate the possibility that any U.S, detonations
would be announced first by other nations, such as Japan.
2. On the other hand counter-propaganda considerations
suggested that in view of the probable considerable number of
HARDTACK detonations, announcement of only about half of the
total would prevent two important developments - (a) the effect on
world public opinion of the U.S. methodically ticking off
announcements of the detonations as frequently as they occurred,
sometimes possible two, or even three, per day, and (b) the
exploitation by Russian propaganda of the fact of issuance of U.S,
official announcements of the detonations,
In the absence of
the official U.S, announcements, Russian propaganda would be
forced, If it wished to attempt to capitalize upon the number, or
approximate number of detonations,
to speculate rather than to
rely upon the official U.S, reports.
This difference, in terms
of effective propaganda, is considerable,
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SECRET
Annex "A" to
Appendix "A"