Letter to H B Loper, Subject: Foreign Observers at Operation Redwing (Appendix a to AEC 787/34)

Page 1

I refer to Dr, Libby’s letter of 6 July 1956%;advising that, with certain revisions, the Commission concurs in the use of the material forwarded with my letter of 20 June 1956** for briefing foreign observers at Operation REDWING. The changes made by the Commission will permit giving to foreign observers very general information on all shots of Operation REDIJING,but prohibits the discussion of approximate yields of the three shots as was proposed in Dr. Ogle’s manuscript and approved by the Department of Defense* The changes had the effect of deleting all.Restricted Data which we had proposed to transmit to foreign observers. We had considered carefully whether more information than that contained in Dr. Ogle’s manuscript should be given to the British and Canadian observers. We determined that the manuscript as forwarded to you contained the appropriate information to be disclosed and we requested that the Commission join the Department of Defense in a determination that the information was transmissible. Dr. Libby’s letter did not reply to our request and we are, as a result, unaware of the Commission’s %“determination as to transmissibility if such was made or conThe time interval between my receipt of Dr. Libby’s letter and the scheduled departure of forei~ observers to the Pacific Proving Ground left me no choice but to forward the briefing material, as approved by the Commission to the Chief of Naval Operations for use by Dr. Ogle. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to pass on to YOU my concern that the limited information which w wili now be gi~en the British and Canadian observers is not in accord with the spirit of cooperation invisioned in inviting them to the operation and may reflect on the possible United States attendance at British test shots, Honorable Lewis L. Strauss Chairman, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Secretariat Note: +-Copyon file in the Office of the SecretaV **Circulated as Appendix “A” to AEC 787/34 ‘—This material contains information affecting the national defense of the Uni’~c(l.States within the meaning of the espionage laws, Title I-8,U.S.Cc) Sec. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation r.( of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law,