OVERSEAS REACTION TO THE AEC FEBRUARY 15, 1955 STATEMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-YIELD NUCLEAR WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00268R000700010027-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: June 14, 1955
• Content Type: MEMO

_ 11 liii cAc:7 -7_ / I_ 341-
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CONFIINTIAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 4
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASH I NGTON
June 14, 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Overseas Reaction to the AEC
February 15, 1955 Statement on
the Effects of High-Yield Nuclear Weapons
REFERENCE: NSC Action No, 1344-b
Enclosed herewith, for the information of the
National Security Council, is a follow-up report on the sub-
ject by the Operations Coordinating 3oard, dated June 8,
1955, prepared pursuant to the reference action.
Attention is invited to the statement, in
paragraph 9 of the above-mentioned report, that "no specific
recommendations as to additional actions are being made at
this time".
JAMES S. LAY, IR.
Executive Secretary
cc: The Secretary of the Treasury
The Attorney General
The Director, Bureau of the Budget
The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
The Federal Civil Defense Administrator
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director of Central Intelligence
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OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD
Washington 25, D. C.
June 10,1955
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. James S. Lay, Jr.
Executive Secretary
National Security Council
SUBJECT: Follow-up Report on Overseas Reaction to the AEC
February 15, 1955 Statement on the Effects of
High-Yield Nuclear Weapons
The attached follow-up report by the Operations Coordinating
Board, in response to NSC Action 1344-b, on overseas reaction to
the Atomic Energy Commission statement of February 15, 1955 on
the effects of high-yield nuclear weapons, covers the period
from March 5, 1955 through June 8, 1955. The report was con-
curred in by the Board on June 8 for transmission to the National
Security Council.
Attachment
Subject Report. dated
June 8, 1955.
7. /
/;,?
Elmer 13. Staats
Executive Officer
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June 8, 1955
FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON OVERSEAS REACTION TO THE AEC FEBRUARY 15, 1955
STATEMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-YIELD NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
A. BACKGROUND
1. This report has been prepared by the OB in response to NSC
Action 1344.,b, approved by the President on Ear& 5, 1955, to the
effect that:
"While additional U.S. public statements specifically
designed to counter unfavorable trends are not required at this
time, the problem should be kept under continuous review by the
Operations Coordinating Board, and a further report should be fur-
nished the National Security Council at the end of ninety days.
Special attention should be paid to the emergence of any neutralist
trends which may be traceable to greater public awareness of the
effects of thermonuclear explosions."
B. SUW,ARY
2. There is no evidence that the 21EC's February 15 statement on the
(effects of high-yield nuclear weapons had any significant effect in
stimulating trends towards neutralism or increased reluctance of our
allies to stand with us in defense preparations.
3. While it is not possible to single out the effects of the AEC
statement from other related developments, it should be borne in mind
that world apprehensions concerning the employment of nuclear weapons
are increasing and a good part of these apprehensions stem from increasing
awareness of the effects of nuclear weapons.
4. These apprehensions may result in increased pressures for relaxa-
tion of tensions and accommodation with the USSR. The authoritative
gestimate of this factor will be contained in forthcoming NIE 100-5-55,
"Impact of Increasing Nuclear Plenty on the Policies and Relationships
of the Principal Powers".
5. There was evidenced a short-lived trend to view the radiation
effects of small-yield nuclear weapons such as were being exploded
at the Nevada Test Site as similar to the radiation effects of the
large-yield weapons described in the February 15 Report. This became
discernible as the early shots and their continued postponement at the
Nevada Test Site were publicly reported. There were new proposals for
cessation of nuclear tests by India, Japan, the British Labor Party, and
the recent Bandung Conference, as well as proposals for international study
of the effects of radiation and even for international control of future
tests. (See Tab "A".) In England a Labor Party motion for cessation of
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ONFIDENTIAL
nuclear tests until an international conference of scientists had studied
radiation effects was defeated in the House of Commons by forty votes.
The United States was not immune from political action along this line,
for on April 13th, Senator Peyne, supported by 21 other Senate Members,
introduced a resolution supporting a UN study of the radiation effects
from nuclear explosions.
Soviet Bloc Reactions
6. In the Soviet bloc, the tendency to proclaim Communist States
immune from destruction by nuclear weapons, rioted in the March 2 Report
to the Council, was continued. The Chinese Communist radio took special
pains to belittle the destructive effects of nuclear weapons in a
series of broadcasts to its home audiences, which were unprecedented for
the amount of attention given to this subject.
C. CONCLUSIONS.
7. There, has been no significant or widespread foreign reactions
to the February 15 statement in so far as radiation effects are con-
cerned.
8. While it is not poseible to directly trace the part played by
the February 15 statement in the over-all climate of opinion situation,
it appears that the generalized fears with respect to nuclear 'weapons
are increasing throughout the world.
D. RECOMMENDATIONS.
9. In view of the basic reexamination of disarmament policies now
being undertaken, and the fact that the following actions with respect
to information on radiation effects of nuclear weapons are now under
way, no specific recommendations as to additional actions are being made
at this time:
a. The Atomic Energy Commission is continuing its routine
program of releasing appropriate material on radiation effects to
be available for dispelling misapprehensions abroad as well as at
home. This will be continued without prejudice to the definitive
National Academy of Scienees study which is being carried forward
with AEC cooperation.
b. A possible U.S: initiative proposing international study
or exchange of information on radiation effects is being studied
on an urgent basis by AEC and State.
c. Under the recently concluded NATO atomic energy informa-
tion agreement; pertinent information on radiation effects will be
made available to NATO.
10: It. is recommended that this report be reviewed by the Council
in connection with the forthcoming NIE 1005,55.
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TAB. "A"
Chronology of Events Since February 15,1955, Affecting
Climate of Opinion Concerning Radiation
February 15, 1955:
AEC statement on effects of large-scale nuclear
explosions.
February 23, 1955: In his weekly press conference, the President indicates
that the United States does not favor a moratorium
on tests except as part of a comprehensive disarmament
agreement (Premier .6ulganin had indicated a similar
position in a.press interview on February 10).
February 261 1955: Francis Perrin, French High Commissioner for Atomic
Energy, made a public statement pointing out that the
effects of radiation from tests so far are minimal.
Early March
Numerous public references to the possibility that
nuclear weapons might be used in the event of hostili-
ties in the Formosan Straits.
March 6, 1955 The Federation of American Scientists propose establish-
ment of a UN Commission to study the effects of radia-
tion from nuclear explosions.
March 10-15, 1955: Stories in Scandinavian and U.K. newspapers concern-
ing passage of a radioactive cloud from Nevada tests.
March 16,
1955
March 22,
1955
March 29,
1955
April 8
1955
:
April 13
1955
:
India sends a formal note to the UN Secretary General
reiterating its intention to press the Indian proposal
for a moratorium on nuclear tests when the UN Disarma-
ment Commission next meets.
Labor Party motion for cessation of nuclear tests
until an international conference of scientists has
studied radiation effects is defeated in the House of
Commons by 40 votes.
The Executive Board of UNESCO rejected a, proposal for
an international study by experts concerning the ef..;,
fects of radiation.
The National Academy of Sciences announces that it
will undertake an independent study of effects of
radiation with AEC cooperation.
Ambassador Lodge advised the State Department that
he believes that we must expect proposals for interna-
tional study on action relating to radiation effects
at the next session of the UN General Assembly. He
recommends that we be prepared to take the initiative
in this Matter.
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April 13, 1955 : Senator Payne, supported by 21 other senators,
introduces a resolution supporting a UN study of the
radiation effects from nuclear explosions.
(S.Con.Res.22)
April 15, 1955 AEC Chairman Strauss testifies concerning radiation
effects before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy.
April 20, 1955 : Sir John Cockroft of Great Britain makes a major
public statement pointing out that the level of radio-
activity from tests is far below the danger point.
April 24, 1955 : The communique at the end of the Bandung Conference
appeals to the powers concerned to reach agreement
suspending nuclear tests.
April, 1955 The U.K. metropolitan press calls for cessation of
nuclear tests until qualified scientists can
determine the effects of radiation.
April, 1955 The British Labor Party election manifesto calls for
cessation of nuclear tests.
May 4 1955 Swedish Foreign Minister linden states in a speech
that Sweden is considering proposing a UN study of
radiation effects.
May 10, 1955 USSR releases 4 new statement of the Soviet position
on disarmamentwhich provides for cessation of nuclear
tests as an early part of a disarmament agreement.
May 30, 1955 Scheduled Tokyo Conference on radiation effects.
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