Memo, Subject: Public Affairs Guidance Regarding Bikini Atoll (U)

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DEFENSE AT’OMIC SUPPOR; AGENCY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) Affairs Guidance Regarding Bikini Atoll (U) made to the following: dated 28 January 1969, subject: “Bikini Atoll, DOD Support for Clearing b. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Division of Military Application, Atomic Energy Commission, and,the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Department of Defense, on Cleanup o~ Bikini Atoll, dated 11 c. (MD (PA) Memorandum to Director, Defense Atomic Support Agency Department of the Interior news release dated 18 January 1969, In carrying out the Bikini Atoll clearance tasks assigned by reference la. and agreed to by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in referDirector, D&3A, expects to encounter significant press “in certain quarters, for reasons indicated below. Some of this I< w z %ss already been evinced. It appears desirable to examine the pertinent m cedures which can best support legitimate public and world interests, e ::u while avoiding stimulation of undue speculation (for example, such as on ~ _ . maintenance of test readiness) and protecting any potentially sensitive fYd subjects (such as certain sources of funding). These procedures should ~ include constructive guidance to those officials in the Pacific area to = ~~.,whomthe press habitually turns for news on activities of the SOrt that involved initially (CINCPAC, AEC Honolulu Office, JTF-8, Holmes and should assure compatibility with the ultimate responsibilities of the Department of the Interior for the completion of the “ project and for any public information related to those phases which ““ . follow the DASA operations. ..,,

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SUBJECT: Public Affairs GuiclanccRcgnrding Bikini Atoll (U) 3. Public Affnirs Situntion: A I)cpnrtmontof the Interior news and intentions of tho project to rohabilltatc Bikini and return the natives to the atoll.” The October M issue of Life magazine carried an age in December 196S, and the two major Honolulu newspapers have had stories on the project, the most recent being in the 29 January Honolulu Star-Bulletin under a Saipan dateline, moved by the Micronesia News Scrvicc, which stated that the project had begun. NBC has expressed interest in making a documentary of the project, and BBC has approached Department of t~e Interior on the subject. Comm@nccmcnt of work aPPcars likely to arouse further press interest. Holmes and Narver, the engineering contractors, huve begun hiring In Honolulu and on the U. S. lfest Coast. Equipment from the West Coast commenced movement on 31 January Sn USS BELLE GROVE, and additional personnel and equipment from Hawaii and Johnston Island sailed on 12 February. The advance party of about 39 mon with their equipment will land on Bikini about February 18. (There will be no air access until this party can prepare the airstrip.) a. Wi~h the above background emerging, discussions of means of handling public affairs matters have taken place in Washington and Honolulu. blr.Charles Eloatner,Director of Public Affairs for the Department of the Interior, is understood informally to favor open public access to the project, subject, of course, to limitations imposed by the remoteness of the atoll and the austere conditions under which the work will be done, and also sfibjectto necessary protection of any aspects which might be considered sensitive. CINCPAC PAO, in conference with DASA PXO in Honolulu February 4, e~~ressed support for a Bikini public affairs pro=~an that would infor~ Micronesia and the world of U. S. actions in behalf of Bikinians. In the Iattcr connection the general plans for a hlicronesianplebiscite are pertinent, as are JCS Memorandum to Secretary of Defense (JCSN 441-68 of 11 July 6S) and Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum dated 31 July 6S, in reply, which concern the importance of DOD support of measures to generate favorable Micronesia response when such a plebiscite occurs. b. Additional factors will bear upon the public affairs situation once the advance party has landed. Permission to visit the project during the AEC/DOD phase will be retained by Commander Joint Task Force 8, subject further to CINCPAC area clearance. Access to Bikini will continue to be difficult at best. Capability to support visitors will .

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SUBJECT: Public Affairs Guidance Regarding Bikini Atoll (U) be closely limited and austere, and capability to protect them against miscellaneous incidental hnznrds will bc equally limited. The nature of the project is such that no classified subjects are expected to be exposed to undesired view. DASA contemplates establishing field outlets approximately as follows: MSA PIO in Washington; Information Office at Headquarters JTF-8, Sandia Base, N. M.; Information Officer on staff of Commander JTG-8.8 (Bikini cleanup task group), but normally stationed in Hawaii (collocated with JTG-8.5); and a service journalist and a photographer on Bikini for documentation. Subject to operational requirements, Bikini communications facilities will be available for press traffic. Photographic still and mopix products will be flown out weekly, monitored by DASA information specialists, and made available as appropriate for 5. Director, DASA, accordingly recommends that @SD (PA): a. Establish additional public affairs guidance for the Bikini cleanup task by: Announcing the start of DOD participation (draft proposal Enclosure 2), and appropriate subsequent significant develpolicy-level modifications in the participation. 3), to bc au.mented later as necessary, for further guidance in addition to that otherwise defined. -..-l (1) TO conduct a public affairs program consistent with his other responsibilities for the Bikini cleanup, to be guided by, and limited to the substantive framework of’information released in, the Department of the Interior release (reference l.d.) and any subsequent releases by that Department, AEC releases if occurring, and the DOD releases and additional guidance indicated in subparagraph a. above. The program will not address itself to the national capability to resume unlimited nuclear testing or to the details of funding for the Bikini cleanup task, both of which will be treated as separate subjects within the competence of CIWD (PA). The program will include still and motion picture, news feature and hometown news story releases. All phases of the program will be conveyed, in advance when feasible, to CINCPAC PAO. .

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SUBJECT: Public Affairs Guidance Regarding Bikini . (2) To assist, within the capabilities of group, world press representatives askinz ‘0 ‘iSit progosed visit will be coordinated in advance with to include CINCPAC area clearance. the cleanup task the site. Each such OASD (PA) and CINCPAC, 6. This Memorandum has been informally coordinated with representatives of the Department of the-Interior and the Atomic Energy Commission. 1. as VAIM USN