DECLASSIFIED Authority NNO qS2 q l I 1 State • 7 Action FE FROM rrokyo Info ss TO Secretary of State G SP NO 2264 March 22 Noon C SAE PRIORITY L H f --------------------- 2 - - ·- Date of Aotion Reference Embassy's 2261 concerning FUKURYU MARU inciaent Action Off ice Symbol _ t1 _t _ E R I 1 p OLI IOP CIA OSD TjAVY DCLC c f i 9 0 fia s n n rii Io t il aspe Sie ro ·r sei tfri ty problem and requested Japanes t9°QX qm n t e l l st ps ne essar'YZ restrict access information o151 ain tJ ft8nt'qS1 es-t'a'nQp_ _ a t-igation H of ship to people in whom Japanese Governme t had co plete ·Le confidence I also referred to numerous un iendl press stories and apparent desire of press and scie i ar'T°s to extJ' 'act --- I for public consumption all possible information regarding type - and composition of bomb used at Bikini Okazaki said that - a • while it would be possible to call in top Japanese press people• and explain seriousness of situation to them with possible 01 favorable results it would be much more difficult to control m activities of doctors and scientists who already have had - access to ship and to ashes He said thea e were no adequate la at present which would give government power to control these pe rsons However h e requested Embassy to furnish him specific J list of desired actions and he promised to give frank statement I as to what could o r_Pco i- i -ld not be done In consultation with N available United States ex perts Embassy is now preparing such I list for presentation 01 Okazaki then went on to outline difficult situation in which government finds itself in Diet as result 0£ pres t i adent Questions havgi be en -asked by opposition par-j ies as o w t bas is interna tiona 1 law there is for Uni ted- - sta tes etttng off large portion of Pacific area for atomic teS tllr O zakt has to date replied that United States action i consis 't ent and in accordance with trusteeship agreement over f6mer mg bdatero_ islands but he says this will not long prove e 1isf tory particularly in view of greatly enlarged area w ncfEifiecf to Japanese Government More serious however 1 'f'1 kaz i I s' J vin are questions which right Socialists have rai d as wh assurance can be given that fish from area in lved cfr mn outside a r -ea where ashes may have fallen are n6't cqntam tllStBted and even if caught outside area might pe danger to heal f J l a pane PERMANENT RECORD COPY • This copy must be returned to D a - a tt 1 R OOCTION_ F Ttfl COPY IF CL ASSIFUD I PROHIBITED - I DECLASSIFI ED i I 11 1 Ii 2 Il1 _ o' b-2- '2- q2 l 1 Autl ority _tJ IV i Ii 11 u o I '• § J · • · 2264 March 22 · Noon 'from Tokyo Japan This problem will be increased in intensity within 1arg0 area in view of great Japanese dependence on fish from this section of Pacifio In addition questions have been raised about warm current from Southern Pacific which flows up towards Japan and ptHH' les near Kyushu What as'surances can be given that this_ c rent has not been contaminated and that it in turn will not contaminate coastal waters of Japan Okazaki told me confidentiaily that as result of these questions which he said ® m©d to tlim to have some reasonableness he might be forced to pprio -ch Emb ssy officially and set forth these and similar questions together with request that until authorit etive satisfactory answers could be given Japanese Government would h ve to request United States to postpone any future test Throughout conversation Ok zaki was friendly and reasonable but was obviously concerned over possibilities of greatly deteriorating Uniteci_States-Japan relations unless ecrly steps could be tek@n wniahwould calm present fears and anxieties He said early indication from United States Government that it would at least be responsible financially for medical care of fisherrn n and relief to their families would have great favorable effect He said Japanese Gov rnment was investigating what it could do for relief of these fishermen and their families and had about decided to tgke such action on assumption that they would be eventually reimbursed by United States · As stated in my 226li I believe prompt United States action along these lines before Japanese Government has publicly taken action would be of real benefit and I again recommend I be given authority to announce such action I also urgently request prompt advice from Department with respect to questions raised by Okazaki so tb ac if possible we can forestall official Japanese protest or request for postponement ALLISON EOC RMG 1