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DEPARmNT PASS BUGHER, AEC AND FEC PASS EISENBUD,HQ TASK 1. Last night in address at America-Japan Society Centennial Kanagawa Treaty banquet, Foreig~~nister said Japan cognizant H-_bombtests necessary fOP securitynot only US but of other other’free nations assure success of tests. 9 however, we are fully aware that our fishing industry should be duly compensated for any loss it may suffer in consequence 2. Okazaki~s notice emphasized industrial compensation aspect FUKURYU MARU case which seems likely increase in importance. Yesterday Foreign Office delivered personal communication to Embassy officer listing seven shipq of 235 retwni?g Japan March 20 to April 5 as radioactive. Memorandum states MmistryWelfare has no legal authority detain vessels and fishermen found rs.dioactive because atomic radiation disease not stipulated in epidemic diseases prevention law, which is sole legal b~sis this action. Therefore, should Ministry detain boats and fishermen compensation has to be made for which funds are not authorized. Moreover, Ministry Welfare inspectors have to follow radioactive ships wherever they go in order conduct inspection. Memorandum ended this point without further comment. It was dated April 7, redated April 8, and delivered late April 9 aTter Eisenbud 3. Its enclosures give navigation courses five of these vessels and ra@iation counts for all seven. Human body counts range from 30 per minute to 500; catch from 40 to 155; ships from 40 to 2443 in one case. None of these vessels or catch seen .orexamined by US technicians. Unsuccessful attempt to monitor two of them reported Embassy telegram 2387. No data supplied re type monitoring equipment, examination conduction, or normal background radiations. background reading taken in Chancery this morning showed 60 counts pgr minute im US Emb::sY> and radium-dial wrist watch worn by one officer for number DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DECLASSIFKATION REVIEW years showed 19737
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years showed 17,000 counts per minute.) 4. Visit to ship at Uraga last night byDr. Lewis, Embassy telegram 2463, went smoothly. Counts hottest part ship were 120 per r]iriute;catch maximum which was intestine one tuna 240; both inclusive background. One tuna obtained for dissection and shipment AEC laboratory New York. As this is being written two more ships reported having returned radioactive. 5. Japanese originally accepted Eisenbud suggestion vot to export fish with counts 100 above normal background, although in-point-f=t they do not seem to be differentiating between object and background. 6. In view all this and respects further similar cases, would appreciate comments re: a acceptability fish with low level radiation to US markets; b any further suggestions as to monitoring criteria, with & without US participation; (c) US liability for compensation of losses to fish industry if catches f destroyed as unfit for US markets on US standards or for domestic market on Japanese standards. Is AEC or Food and Drug prepared establish health standard for fish products in terms maximum