at the Commission's Eniwetck Proving Ground are being carriedcut
-by Joint Task Force 132."
of these tests.
5.
Ina recent speech, Chairman Mevlahon: of the doint Ccmmittce
on atomic Energy urged that the United States acquire @ stcckpile cf
4
.
Nothing was said concerning the nature
so
,
OO
thousands of thermonuclear weapons thus implying that such wetpcns
were feasible and practical.
6.
« number of newspaper articles and’ columns (Alsop, Pearson
and Allen) have indicated thet the United Stctes will test a thernenuclear weacon in the Fall of 1952. Baldwin has written abcut a
Uthermonuclear device.!
.
.
7. The gonerel impression exists that there ere no pessible
non-military uses for thermonuclear reactions. Hevever, the Atomic
inergy Commission is investigating the possibilitiss of controlled
thermonuclear reactions, which open up the possibilities cf cther
than weapons use for thase reactions. Althcugh this activity is
classificd, there has been some speculaticn in the public press
about the possibility of nen-militery uses of thermonuclear reactions.
B.
DISCUSSION
ThreePossible methods of dealing with the forthecming series
of tests at Eniwotck can usefully be ecnsidecred:
1.
Make ne announcement about the tests.
2. Exploit the tests in such a way as to leave the
impression that the United States has thermonuclezr weapons
in being.
3.
Make a factual but general public announcencnt.
in considering cach of the above, full account must be taken
of the desired reactions and impressions we should like to create
domestically, on our frivnds and allies abroad, on neutrals, and on
the Sovict Unicn.