|
.
f7~> (7 (LD
> ©) - Y
ocation(Netanad
hee No. Boy 23F
Folder
4 SONTOTOH WoOMd MaaNAAMAIN
AE
-53
100601
:
September 1, 1954
CIA TWNOEIWN QUE
I
RG JAY De
Honorable John W. Heselton
House of Representatives
Washington,
Dd.
C.
Dear Mr. Meselton:
Of necessity Mr. Cole has been out of the city a great deal
recently. He has, therefore, asked me to reply to your inquiry of
August 13 with regard to the letters from your constituents concerning
the Spring N-bomb test series in the Pacific. Se too has received
letters of a similar vein from worried citisens.
‘Although the Japanese fishing vessel incident was indeed
unfortunate, Mr. Cole has endeavored to point out the following relevant facts in answering these inguiries and protests:
(1)
The Japanese fishing vessel, the “Lucky Dragon”, was
more nearly 120 miles than 1200 miles from the last explosion.
It was
just outside the original safety zone, which wae a rectangular area
240 miles by 120 miles.
The new safety area, which reaches out 450
miles, is believed to be more than adequate, according to the Atomic
Energy Commission, to protect shipping in the area.
(3)
The Spring test series in the Pacific was completed early
in June and no further tests are scheduled at this time.
However, in
the development of our weapons’ program it is vitally important that we
test new designe in order that we may maintain our lead in silitary
strength. We, as a people, must keep in mind that we are engaged in a
titanic struggle with world communise and thet, to date, our strongest
protection against Communist aggression has been our military progres,
particularly our atomic weapon atockpile.
It is essential for our
national welfare that we continue to pugh our research progran to develop
new and improved weapons for we may rest sspured that the enemy is not
idle.
(3) The atomic program, as a whole, has the finest safety
recoré of any industry in the country. The test program itself has a
very. excellent safety record. When you realise that the atomic energy
program has consumed $10 billion over a period of ten years and has
OY
f
el
Wigc
\o