Memo to M Salisbury, Subject: Chronology of American Offers of Medical Assistance in re Japanese Fisherman (Draft Memo)

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KE JAPANESE FISHERMEN. 1. Following newspaper reports of injury to Japanese fishermen, o ‘, Dr. Bugher telephoned Dr. John Morton, Director, Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, in Japan, requesting that he proceed to Tokyo, determine such facts as he could, and offer facilities and services of the staff of the ABCC. (Dr. Bugher talked to Korton by long distance phone on March 16 and March 19). ~oN4cu invited our assistance STOP ABCC medical team will arrive Tokyo “w-on Thursday March 18 American Embassy informed of these plans~ 4 Yorton @turn to Tolgrofrom Hiroshima with this team.” giving average white was sent March 21. A cable from Morton in To’kyo, As of March 14. Co-rotson?tarch 17 To&o

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patients 4400 ~while Yaizu patients 7358. Differential co~ts within normal Japanese limits. This teletype contains statement of these counts were critical.) .!I.Dispatch from Ambassador Allison dated l!arch17 contains the following: “I informed Ckumura that in response to invitation from Japanese doctors to M3CC sending team of three America and To~o to consult in treating injured fisher5. March 18 - Ambassador Allisonls message contains following statement: Item ~. Cooperation to date has been complete regarding direci riedical treatment, reserved regarding scientific and technical, withheld re c7ustodyor transfer of ship. assistance well received and has given %-eightto government’s confident assertion that US can be expected “to do the right thing”.

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report from Ambassador Allison states Ambassadors meeting treated favorably. U. S. offers of medical aid and codecontamination and investigation appear well received. arrival of Dr. Morton and on local news page rather press featured news of investigations and ABCC group from Hiroshima but stories appear than monopolizing front page. Press demanded US divulge ‘tallinformation?tneeded to treat px&zxhx victims. o/* Yomiuri speculates on rivalry between Japanese and American scientists. Japanese scientists reported to fear American scientists will use them as mere gatlnerersof information, meaminile refusing to give essential s+nitype necessary for treatnent of injured.scientific facts ofxmzkkw Norton and Meek flying from Allison contains the following item: to Yaizu to inspect hospitalized sailors and vessel. Preliminary reports 4.BCCdoctors indicate degree injury suffered may be less than Press has reported. Should have better indication nature incident on their return Tokyo lflarch21. }.1s0

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report states believe it highly important US-Japanese relations we appear as solicitous re Japanese as re South Sea islanders. 11. Dispatch Narch 19 contains the text of the Embassy!s press release put out 6 F?!Friday March 19. “I have been pleased to learn of t’heprompt action which is being taken by both Japanese and American authorities to provide the most effective possible ndical and technical assistmce to those affected by the accident which befell the F&uryu Maru. This assistance is being offered out of humanitarian concernfor the injured crew rriimbersand concern for the public safety. I wish to renew the assurance already given that US civilian ad military persomel and facilities in Japan are available to give the greatest possible degree of assistance to the Japanese authorities who have already shown themselves alert and vigorous in dealing with the problem. Our joint investi~ations of the inci~ent are alr?ady well under way, and will, I believe, lead to findings which we can both accept. In advance of those findings I am authorized to make clear that the US is prepared to take such steps as may be necessary to insure fair and just compensation if the facts so warrant.” The foregoin~ was read to Vice Minister Okumura, who expressed gratification and ‘celj.eved statement would have very helpful effect.

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12. Dispatch dated March 20 from Allison: Dr. Morton, Colonel Meek returned from Yaizu inspection today. Examined hospitalized patients and ship. Preliminary report indicates some of Yaizu patients more seriously injured than two patients previously removed to Tokyo. lie may wish to recommend to Japanese transfer entire group To&o University Hospital.. FEC will cooperate in providing facilities. (Later information suggests that this recomnendati n antagonized Yaizu doctor~, which may have played an important part in later deterioration of relations with Dr dispatch also contains the following estimate ~ the minimum total body radiation dose acquired by boat persomnel~s approximately SO 13. March 21 dispatch contains follo~tingrequest from I.llison: ,Reco,mnendthat I be authorized to inform For”eiOmNinister that, without prejudice to question of responsibility for accidentt,US Government k-illhnediately assume full responsibility for medical expenses of injured, and will pay fishermen’s wages with perhaps solatium to their f,amilies while they remain hospitalized (in accordance with Japanese

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1)4. March 22: dispatch from Allison quotes Okasaki as saying early indication from US Government that it would at least be responsible financially medical care of fishermen and relief to their families would have great favorable effect. The Embassy again ur~es prompt US action along these lines. 15. March 22: dispatch from Allison states Japanese Goverrumnt has not yet authorized movement patients from Yaizu. Accordingly only two patients in To&o available for examination. ~Reviewed~ blood studies on all cases today. IJotsummarized yet. 16. March 23. Message from Allison states Horton and ABCC physicians have only limited access to the two patients at To&o University Hospital. Have not been permitted to make independent blood counts, analyses, etc., or to take full case histories. The 21 patients have not been moved frcm Yaizu. Tiieexcuse is that some are reluctant to go t; Tokyo. Japanese Foreign Office informs us privately re/difficulty is with hospital officials. Yaizu authorities want ta retain patients; Tokyo doctors and bureaucrats cannot agree whether To’kyoU

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or National Health Institute should have custody. Press stories continue allegations US wishes to obtain ship “to destroy the * evidence!’and interest in patients only as guinea pigs. (Note 21 patients left in provincial hospital at Yaizu and denied US aid, while Dr. Tsuzuki of Tokyo University predicted to the Diet yesterday that two patients would die. Called Japan a victimized country. 17. Dispatch dated March 24 from Allison states Morton?s effectiveness handicapped by poor cooperation of Japanese. Statement by Tsuzuki that AEC not advisable for inconsistent with facts available to Morton. not clear but further direct communication from 18. Dispatch dated March 2L includes suggestions made by Allison to Ckas~ki that there be full access to ill crewmen for US technicians .aong other things. A central authority for review and control of reports to be published was another item.

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19. Dispatch dated Yarch 24: Refers to morning meeting - discussed care and treatment of patients. Attended on Japanese side by 12 representatives ministries, Foreign Affairs, Welfare, Education, National Health Institute, Scientific Institutej To&o University. Gn US side Embassy, Eisenbud for AEC, Morton for ABCC, Colonels ~~acNinchand Marx for FEC, Hanna for USIS_ Japanese requested fullest possible information re constituents explosion, seemed fairly satisfied with Eisenbud!s general statemnts. Probably till move Yaizu Promised ash sample from Fuku.ryuMaru and 24 hrs urine output all patients. Japanese side favorably impressed Eisenbud~s competence and presentations. Japanese have formed Atomic 3omb Injury Investigation Committee, hereafter will be referred to as ABIIC, under Kobayashi of National Health Institute, to coordinate investigations and liaison more relaxed and cordial. to Eisenbud of ash sarrple Atmosphere afternoon meeting considerably !fieetingopened by presentation by Kobayashi requested in morning. Attribute much of to excellent impression made by Eisenbx?.

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20. Dispatch same date to Bugher from Eisenbud includes request “J~panese wmt benefit of Americen clinical experience with EDTA. Please have prepared a concise sumr.aryof progress with this and other agents for mobilizing bone seekers. Albert is up to date and can do this if you ~.tish.Today obtained Japanese assurance that urine samples from all sailors will ‘cemade available tomorlww. Tlneyapparently have been unsuccessful in their own radio-chemical analyses despite press releases tc the contrary. I promised Japanese a report on ~ composition of ash in one week. Japanese . will \t’ant‘oenefitof our estimate of internal dose based on analyses. Please obtain summary of stateside experience with skin decont:ic~nation md mail to Embassy. llortonunable to examine patients,has had very limited access to data. Fo~.aticlnof new Japanese ccmmittee offers prospects for a better relationship in next day or so. 21. Dispatch dated lflarch25: Japanese government not yet decided form ad amounts financial assistance fishermen and yesterday both patients Tc’kyoU hospital felt ~-ell. cne had fallen from 6,000 earlier in ireekto 3600. families. As of White count on

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at 4600 but complained of pain around head ulceration. Tsuzuki. reports 21 patients at Yaizu were “okay”. Information refers acute body irradiation.) US experts have no knob-ledgeregarding internal emitters or absorption radioactive materials. Eisenbud is acque.intirg Japanese scientists with unclassified fects regarding general nature sir, water, atmospheric contamination. 22. Karch 27: dispatch identifies air special delivery coni’idential Fackage as being on way to NYOO (presumably contains fallout material Yobayashi, Chairman of the AEIIC. 2L~~rine analyses from each of two ~o~o patients left this date. Instruct Harley Undertake amalyses immediately for tctal fissioriFrcduct ectivity and principal fissicn prcducts. Tsuzuki leaves JaFan next week for Geneva In private talk he told me he was evoid.ingUS for fear Wisa Embassy officials indicate this unlikely. Urges Tsuzuki ke invited to visit US. E~,bassyofficials ccncur in tinis.

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214. March 27: Bugher from ltorton: Two Tokyo patients almost completely worked up by American standards. Last seen by us Karch 25 and Blood counts up, no constitutional co.nplaintsor reactions. Prognosis should be guarded until urine analytical tests ccmpleted by you. Yaizu patients seen March 26. All day trip no examinations but visited (i.e. seen but not examined). None appeared ill, One patient with no complaints shows enbrged tonsils and pustules. Will try to watch. NO new hematological Yaizu able to us. Patients supposedly being air traspcrted Xarch ’28to Tokyo hospitals. Cooperation promised again today in&ck by tcp Japanese doctors. Hope it materializes. Very difficult to study under present circumstances. Will do our best to finish examinations all patients this coming week. Up to now cooperation difficult. imprwing. ]~ortonwill probably have full access tO all patients

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26. March 28, Allison to State Department: Interest Eisenbud, Morton, and Embassy now concentrated on problem of full access to crewmen as their n.edicalhistories of major importance. At Japanese request FEC rently working both at scientific and gcverrment level to yesterday appeared not to have realized failure of scientists and lower officials coo2erate .2s promised. He agreed full access was both proper and reasonable and I would expect him to take this position in inter-. departmental vice ministers committee. Eisenbud and Norton now more optimistic that their contacts will make necessary examinations possible early next week. Until gbxzx problem of access to patients is solved I do not wish to commit us further m compensation question as tion cannot be authorized under American practice until hneric:.nexperts had a chance to make their own findings. March 29: Allison to Bugher: Patients arrived by army plane Waiting official permission Japanese authorities to complete exmirat,icm.

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28. March 30. Allison to ~gher - I have asked Eisenbud participate tomorrow in my regular off-record briefing of U. S. press representatives Tokyo. They have strongly urged his appearance on grounds Japanese officials and scientists have been issuing continual series inflammatory and inaccurate statements regarding Fukurya Maru incident and they lack back@und for appraisal. Allison to Bugher - I saw Okazaki this morning immediately meeting and set forth serious effects continued failure of cooperation may have both for critically ill FM sailors and for medical and scientific knowledge useful to both countries. Okazaki promised to do his best. Oiiaiakitelephoned this evening to say (A) Eisenbud and Morton will have full access to patients beginning tomorrow. Arrangements should be made by them directly with directors of hospitals concerned. He thought everything would be adjusted to their satisfaction, but if there were argrslip, he (Okazaki) should be informed immediately. (B) No tests have been made on patients yesterday because of their extreme nervousness. After day rest tests will begin. (C) At meeting April 2 findings of all participating doctors and technicians will be reviewed. Dr. Morton and Eisen”~d are specifically No-reports regarding patients available to us today. One measure governments and our difficulty is fact that examination and treatment of the seven patients hospitalized at Tokyo University have been divided among four independent medical services. Okazakils intervention with Minister Welfare

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may have at last brought some order to has existed here since FM docked March medical and scientific confusion,which 14l If he has succeeded he deserves 30. March 30. Allison to ~gher - Arrangements made by Okazaki failed to provide facilities required for examination patients. At To~o University Hospital no official could be found able authcrize access. At Dai Ichi Hospital Director National Institute of Health was Wninstructedn and after telephone call to Ministry k’elfarereported latter uninformed regarding Foreign Office arrangements. This afternoon Dr. Tszuki called in Dr. Nortonj urged him not to insist on seeing patients who were highly disturbed by confinement ltetrcpolitanHospital and alarmed by examinations of any doctors except those whom they knew. Even strange Japanese doctors were not welcomed, and this applied to non-Caucasiarison ABCC staff. Dr. Horton replied in circumstances he would respect %.lahesdoctors and their patients and would return to !+iroshirta.He and staff would cone back to To&yo whenever their services vere I sent Okazaki letter at Diet today reciting these facts and concluding that unless Japanese authorities changed their m~.ndsand unless invitations i~sued tomorrow to Dr. Morton and staff to conduct whatever examinations their professional judgment considers necessary they would be :-5_roshima.Furt~.erto correct misinterpretations some public Inforned advices regardin uncertain vkere the informed !dvi.cecane from, indicate blood

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remain dangerously low: one at 2100; one at 1700; and one at 1500 today from yesterdays 800. Tsuzuki reportid last of time, and complained of not feeling well. original patients at Tokyo receive 1OO-3CO these showed increased coagulation These three patients plUS two cc transfusions daily; lowest blood count patient additionally given 600jOC0 units penicillin daily. At this point full and free access to patients for ABCC staff seems to us, on basis EisenEud and Morton advice, irreducible U. S. interest. Data possibly derivable from these patients and available nowhere else may have highest importance U. S. scientific security and planning. Request 12epart~ent and AEC evaluation this point. I would be prepared to go to Yoshida and put case for irmdiate cooperation on following lines. (A) Continued decline of white blood counts as reported informally for prompt application Japanese physicians to Dr..Morton, indicates need best available teclmicues and therapeutic procedures. physicians have not to which goverrient depend on extent to chosen to consult with Dr. lbrtonts staff; (C) Extent will accept liability for this unfortunate accident will vdiich,in our judgment, test available medical techniques have been applied; (D) Japanese government has moral responsibility to assure patients every opportunity to regain he~altln;(E) “A friendly attitude towards the U. S~requires our government be given every opportunity to minimize its potential liability by utilization of American-trained medical scientists on staff of }.BCC:(F)Potential findings of importance to national interests

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March 31. Allison to bgher - Please cable your advice as to any new therapy ~ radiation injuries. Cable urgent within six hours. April 1. Eisenbud to %gher - Okazakils secretary telephoned late last night to say Foreign Minister seriously …