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that dostroyed by the explosion of a singla bomb. “hen it is considered that
is is possible that within the next decade there will ba produced plutonium
in amcunts which may epproach en oannuel level in the rango of tens of tons,
it becomes appsront a natien producing such matoriel at this level would
possess tho potentielity of rendering tons of thousands of square miles
completely winhabitable even for intervals of the order ‘of a few days.
I strongly feel that thea best protection that this netion oan
mee me
secure acainst tho possibilities of radiotctive azents veing omployed as
amilitary tool by some foreign power is a thorough evaluation and under-~
. standing of the full potentiality of such an agent.
Fven if it were possible
to predict the evil consequences that will result from the use of such an
uplyasent military implement, such canolusiongs that could be mado would be
inadequate.
In other words, I believe that it is necessary for the adequate
defensos of this nation that’ ean active and comprehensive examination of the
entire problem be made by the armad services. Suchia program, I feel should !
bo carricd out by the Chemical Verfare Service with the collaboration of
other interested brenchus of the e:my and the ravv. Inasmuch es it is appar
mt that such studies must be made by mgms of large scele exporimontation,
as well as laboratory research, it will be essential that thore
available in some isojeted region on extensivo proving ground.
_varioty of field trials could be conducted, the naturo of which
in earlior discussions in this roport.
be made
Here a large
are suggested).
Le
“To me, it would appear that the Chomical Warfare Servioe, in
viow of its-long-standing experience in the use of other ohewioal and phys~
fenl agents of werfare, weuld be best adapted to undertake and supervise
suoh @ program. .In addition, it weuld appear highly desirable to appoint
& civilian edvisory committee oomposed of a group of chemists, physicists,
eid men trained in the medical and biological sciences.
This group of civ-
flian scientists, which would presumably be drown from qualified individ=
uals who have had extensive experience in the difforont aspects of tho recent
developments in nuclear energy, would serve to assist and advise the armed
forces whenever such help would ba needed. I believe that it would be
imappropriate as well as difficult to sesk the assistance of universities
for diroct research aid on most of the problems of investigation that the
program indicated above would require. Lowevor, the fundamental lmowledge
in the fields of chemistry, physios, end medicine that is in tho hands of
the civilian scientists should be drawn upon fresly.
.
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JOSEPH G. HAMILTON, Ee De
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