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IMMEDIATE ReELeASa
March 25, 1959
407735
James C,Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President
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THE WHITE HOUSE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
To my knowledge, there has been no suppression of informa-
tion on fallouts#One particular Department of Defense report,
dealing with this subject, a summary of which was furnished to the
JointCommittee on Atomic Energy on February 19, was originally
classified because it dealt with certain operational techniques
affecting the national security, At the Committee's request, those
portions of the summary report containing the tentative conclusions
derived from this operation to date, were declassifie d,
It was pointed out to the Committee that the data were
subject to different interpretations by different technical experts,
Therefore the Department of Defense had indicated that in view
of the preliminary nature of the information, in its judgmentit
should not be publicly released until it has been more thoroughly
evaluated, The recent release of the differing interpretation
of these data by the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy
Commission does not represent fundamental disagreements but
rather emphasizes the preliminary nature of these findings,
Every effort is being made by this Government to develop
the facts about fallout and to disclose these facta fully to the public.
The Atomic Energy Commission is spending about $18, 000, 000
a year on research on problems associated with radiation standards
and protection, In addition, there are other substantial expenditures
for sampling and analysis for national and world-wide fallout studies.
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As Chairman McConepointed out in his testimony yesterday, in
Fiscal Year '60 the figures for radiation standards and protection
will be increased to $20, 000, 000,
The National Academy of Sciences has asked its committees
on the biological effects of radiation hazards to consider and appraise
the present state of scientific knowledge in this field, the degree
of potential hazard from such radiation, and to recommend further
research that should be undertaken,
This means that the excellent
comprehensive study made under the auspices of the Academy
nearly three years ago will now be brought up to date by competent
scientists,
Everyone in Government who has a responsibility with respect
to this matter feels it of the greatest importance that we be diligent
in our study of this problem,
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REPOSITORY DPE
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