it appears to have spurred them in their nuclear weapons
program, a fact which is underlined by the recent series
of test explosions in Soviet territory.
"Commission tests in the Pacific have never been
designed as a ‘show of forcet but are solely for the
development of weapons necessary for defense of the free
world.
"With reference to Commissioner Murray's discussion
of radioactive fall-out resulting from atomic weapons, the
Commission calls attention to the fact that it has long
provided the principal support of the most thorough study
of this subject in Commission and University laboratories.
Furthermore, an international study of radiation effects
has been sponsored by our Government in the General Assembly
of the United Nations.
Until much further progress has
been made on such studies, it is impossible to be definite
about the genetic effects.
"Mr. Murray's reference to the exposure of the
Japanese fishermen to fall-out from the Castle tests might
be subject to misinterpretation as indicating that their
injuries were the result of negligence on the part of
the Commission and those in charge of the tests.
The facts
are that a warning area had been established around the
test islands as early as 1947 and information to this effect
had been published world-wide in navigational and marine
notices.
The area was searched by radar and visually by
Navy planes prior to the tests."
- 30 -
111855
44