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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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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION CONTINUATION OF ENIWETOK DANGER AREA Note by the Secretary The General Manager has requested circulation of the attached memorandum from the Director of Military Application, whic~l Provides background information for Commission discussion scheduled FOLDER CLASSIFICATION CANCCLLEO BY AUTHORITY OF DOEIOC Deputy General Manager Biology and Medicine
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION I TO: Carroll L, Wilson SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF ENIWETOK DANGER AREA Prior to the holding of weapon tests at Eniwetok in the Spring of 1948, a danger area was established embracing an area 200 nautical miles east and west and 150 nautical miles north and south, centered on Eniwetok. The area was establist.eclby the State Department notifying the chiefs of all foreign diplomatic missions and by the Atomic Er.ergy Commission requesting the Chief of Naval Operations and the P.ir Coordinating Commit;..e to nozify mariners and airmen, and itself notifying the genc~sl publ~c through the medium of a press release. Since our current planning contemplates the re-use of Eniwetok <as a proving grour.d, it is considered desirable from the standpoint of public relations and security to convln.ue in force the dan er area beyond its present date of expiration of December B31, 194 mtil further notice, At the time of establishing the danger area for 1948, the State Department was not willirg to extend the duration of the prescribed danger area beyond oze calendar year. This limitation was desired ky the State Depm’tmerlk in order to avoid the international implication that the United States was restricting the free use of the high seas, and f:l.l>thzr because the State Departmerit desi?ed to avoid possible a~verse international reactions. The State Department is now willing to concur in the indefinite extension in point of time of cte d.a~:ger area. Their willingness is based upon their desire not to ir,vite the attention of all nations annually to the fact that \,e are using Eniwetok as an atomic weapon proving ground and also upcn the fact that no adverse %fiter~ational reaction.,was experienced as a result of last yearls announcement of the danger area. The Military Liaison Committee has indicated that the National Military Establishment concurs i~ the continuance of the danger area for an indefinite period, The indefinite exte~sion of the danger area is concurred in by the Public and Technical Information Service and the Office of It is requested that the Director of the Division of Military .Application be authorized to proceed with effecting those notifications necessary to the continuance of an Eniwetok danger area beyond December 31, 1948 for an indefinite time in the future,