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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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1. Public Announcement Concerning Operation SANDSTONE The Chairman reported to the Commission that during a telephone conversation the previous evening with Mr. C,arpenter ~ Chairman of the Military Liaison Committee, he had taken the position that the Comtis - sion would release a statement shortly after the first test ~hot unless directed not to by the President. He had requested Mr. Carpenter to verify from the Task Force Commander reports reaching the Commis - s ion that the test wa% under observation. The Chairman also advised the Commission that Senator Hickenlooper’s view on this matter coincided with the Commis sion’s position. He stated that Mr. Carpenter would visit the Commission later in the day to discuss the matter fur2. Approval of Minutes Under consideration were revised minutes for Meetings 160 and 161, on March 31 and April 1, 1948.
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APPROVED these minutes. Mr. Wilson stated that he had been informed by S. L. Stewart, Los ~<1 Angeles Area Manager, of certain allegations against Mr. Nicol in con-{” ne ction with his separation from the Rexall Drug Company. Mr. Wilson stated that he had talked with Mr. Justin Dart, president of the company, and Mr. Johnston, the vice -president, who had assured him that the allegations were unfounded and had expressed their full confidence in Mr. Nicol’s integrity and loyalty. Mr. Wilson advised the Commission that a full Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation was in progress and that a report could be expected at an early date. 4. General M.mager’s Visit to Los Alamos Mr. Wilson reported that after the special AEC -MLC Conference on April 1, he and General McCormack went to Los Alamos and Sandia to look into the arrangements between the Commission and the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project for joint action in case of an emergency. As a result of conferences with Mr. Tyler, Dr. Bradbury, General Montague, Mr. Larsen, and others, detailed plans have been worked out for rapid transfer of specific components to the AFSWP. Joint inspection of components has now been instituted, and as rapidly as possible singly inspected components now designated under the emergency plans will be replaced by jointly inspected ones. When the substitution has been completed, the replaced singly inspected components will be used in a rehearsal of the plans, The Commission was requested by the AFSWP to organize a reserve a~sembly team among its personnel, and to designate experienced and versatile personnel as emergency “trouble shooter s.” Plans for rotating assembly teams now at Eniwetok with the team now at Sandia have been abandoned by the Armed Forces. Mr. Wilson stated that cooperation and mutual confidence between the staffs of the Commission and the AFSWP at Sandia were excellent, and that agreement on all points of the plan had been reached. Mr. Wilson stated that arrangements were now being worked out between the Commission and the Department of National Defense for emer - gency procedures in Washington. He recommended that a master plan for Washington and field action in case of national emergency then be drawn up and formally agreed to by the Commission and the Department of National Defense. Mr. Wayrnack recommended that the Commission . report such arrangements formally and in detail to the Mr. Lilienthal sugge steal that it might be opportune for him and the
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Secretary of Defense to report these arrangements to the President when the y present to him their annual recommendations on production rates. At this point Mr. Williams entered the meeting. 5. AEC 61/1 - Reactivation of Pile Area “B” at Hanford Under consideration was a report (AEC 6 1/1) on the above subject by the Director of Production. After discussion, the Commission: APPROVED the recommendation of AEC 6 1/1. 6. AEC 76- Additional Posture and Urchin Production Facilities Under consideration was a report (AEC 76) by the Director of duction, examining the necessity for providing posture and urchin ties in addition to-Units V and VI. After discussion, the Commission: a. APPROVED the recommendation of AEC 76. b. REQUESTED that a letter informing the Joint Committee of this decision be prepared. At this point Mr. Williams left the meeting and Mr. Johnson entered. Sabotage Alert of Commission Installations Mr. Wilson referred to the draft minutes of the special conference with the Military Liaison Committee on April 1, 1948, at which he had not been present. He pointed out the manner in which the points under discus sion were receiving attention. After discussion, it was proposed that a letter to the Military Liaison Committee be drafted, requesting that the Military Establishment keep the Commission fully and promptly informed regarding the military situation so that protective measures against possible sabotage could be kept under constant review. The Commi.s sion would express urgent desire for effective coordination of effort among the Commi~ sion, the Military Establishment, and the Feder - al Bureau of Investigation. The Commission: NOTED that the Associate General Counsel would prepare an appropriate letter.
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8. AEC 77 - Construction of Two Bevatrons Under consideration was a report (AEC 77) by the Dire ct.or of Re - search, concerning construction of a 3 O-foot bevatron at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and of a 55-foot bevatron at the Radiation Laboratory of the University of California. After discus sion, the Commission: APPROVED the recommendation of AEC 77. At this point Mr. Johnson left the meeting. 9. Brookhaven National Laboratory Program Mr, Wilson reported that on April 15 the budget for Brookhaven National Laboratory would be discussed with representatives from the Laboratory. One of the items to be considered was a request for additional funds for construction of rental housing. Mr. Wilson stated that conver - sations with Mr. Bather and Dr. Zinn indicated that the competition for staff would materially affect Argonne. He stated further that AEC oper - ation of housing projects is uncle sir able when it can possibly be avoided, and that his present inclination was to disapprove the request. Mr. Wilson also reported that at Los Alamos he had discussed plans for the Brookhaven reactor with the Senior Responsible Reviewers and with Dr. Manley. The present design capacity of the reactor was 30,000 kilowatts, which might well permit operation at a
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would be necessary nevertheless, starting immediately after the test. . It was pointed outthat in his message of March 25, 1948, the Test Director had expressed the opinion that the detonation would become publicly known within several days of the event. ,. After this discussion, the following action was decided upon with the (1) The Commission will prepare a release for issuance at ., 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on the Saturday following the., fir st test. This release will be a revision of the draft already ,, seen by Mr. Carpenter, but will be submitted to Mr. Carpenter .;”’ for final approval prior to issuance. ......’. .D,, formation will call a meeting in Washington with a selected group...,..”. ...’.-b. of correspondents for press associations and major newspapers.,, late in the afternoon of the Friday following the test. Those attending will be given advance copies of the release, with a general oral explanation, probably by the Chairman and Mr. C ~rpenter, of -... the reasons for issuing the information at this time and in this,,. manner, and an expression of confidence that the press men pres - ent will hold the release and the subject matter of the release in complete confidence until the release time set. (3) In the event of a news leak prior to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, of such nature as to indicate strongly the futility of continuing to withhold a release, it may be found desirable to advance the time of re - lease. The Commission will confer with Mr. Carpenter prior to making any release earlier than 2:00 p.m. Saturday. (4) Commander Ashworth will arrange to notify the Task Force Commander of the above decisions, and also to request him to arrange that with the exception of necessary operational flights ,. (personnel participating in which should be given strictest security briefings ) flights be avoided if possible which would result in the arrival of test or observer personnel at Honolulu or other points where press representatives are present, prior to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on Saturday following the test. Approved by the Commission: April 28, 1948