White House Press Release

HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE August 2, 1946. CONFIDENTIAL: The following report of the Second Bikini Atom Bomb test, made to the President by the President's Evaluation Commission, MUST BE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE until released. NOTE: Release is for 4:00 o'clock P.M., EASTERN.STANDARD TIME, today, August 2, 1946. The same hour of release applies to radio commentators and news broadcasters. PLEASE GUARD AGAINST PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President. The President has received the following report on the Second Bikini Atom Bomb Test from the President's Evaluation Commission, which witnessed the test on July 25 (local time). The report was signed in behalf of the commission by the chair- man, Senator Carl A. Hatch, New Mexico. The other members of the President's Commission are: Senator Leveritt Saltonstall, Massachusetts; Representative Chet Holifield, California; Representative Walter G. Andrews, New York; Dr. Edward U. NARA Condon, director, U. S. Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.; Dr. Karl T. Compton, president, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. Bradley Dewey, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. William S. Newell, Bath, Me.; Mr. Fred Searls, New York. 29 July 1946 Dear Mr. President: Your acknowledgment on July 7th of our preliminary report on the first test at Bikini was much appreciated. The second test was conducted in the same area, July 25 local time, and on the same target ships less those sunk in the first test. The bomb was exploded under a moderate depth of water at 8:30 am local time, on schedule. Weather conditions were perfect. Seven members of your committee witnessed the results. from the USS HAVEN stationed 11 miles from the point where the bomb exploded. There was no requirement of dark glasses for this test, and the target ships were readily visible to the naked eye and easily distinguishable with the aid of binoculars. Our previous report endeavored to. express our appreciation of the cooperation, assistance and unfailing courtesy extended by Admiral Blandy and by the officers and enlisted men and civilian scientific personnel of Joint Task Force One. Through- out, this attitude of interest and diligence has remained at the same high level, and the effect of longer observation of opera- tions and better acquaintance with officers and men has been to convince us that you and the people of the United States can place the utmost reliance on the fairness, thoroughness and real effort for the maximum of honest information which has character- ized these tests. This disposition has expedited and lightened our task in complying with your directive. These tests have con- sistently adhered to the stated purpose of the mission: "Pri- marily to determine the effects of the atomic bomb on naval vessels in order to gain information of valué to the national defense". In the interval between tests the target ships were rede- ployed in respect to the point chosen for the second explosion, (OVER)