ATOMIC ASH IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 11

ATOMIC ASH IN PACIFIC

“No Harmful Effects From Fish”

(Rec. 8 p.m) TOKYO, March 23. Tests given to 243 persons who ate contaminated fish from the atomcontaminated Japanese fishing ship, Fukuryu Maru, showed today that none had symptoms of any atomic ailment. This announcement is expected to calm the fears of Japanese who ate tuna from the Fukuryu Maru after it was learned that ashes from the hydrogen explosion in the Pacific had fallen on the ship. A leading Japanese authority on atomic radiation. Dr. Masao Tsuzuki, of Tokyo University, has said that two or three of Fukuryu Maru’s crew might die as the result of the ash burns. The Japanese Cabinet decided today [to appropriate £ll7O from the Budget Reserve Fund for scientific studies of the incident. The money will be spent primarily on 10 geiger counters and for an official survey of the fishermen’s injuries and of the damage to their boat. Japanese scientists said earlier that they did not wish to co-operate with American doctors in treating the fishermen. The scientists said the Americans wished only to gather information for their own purposes. A proposal that a joint American and Japanese research team should be formed was made by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. A Washington message says that the United States has decided to pay immediate compensation to the Japanese fishermen injured by the radioactive ash, says a Reuter correspondent. Authoritative sources said they expect an early statement from Mr John Allison, the United States Ambassador in Tokyo, that funds will be provided to cover medical expenses and for injuries to the men, payments to their families, and compensation for loss of earnings. The funds are to be made available irrespective of the result of the investigation k) determine if the Japanese fishermen were outside the restricted area affected by the explosion. Navy Tanker Affected A Pearl Harbour message says that the United States Navy said today that a Navy tanker, the Patapsco, received “light and not dangerous contamination by a radioactive fall out” during the recent hydrogen tests at Bikini Atoll. The 4000-ton tanker, working in support of the hydrogen bomb task group, carried a crew of deck officers and 86 men.

The Navy said that examination of all the crewmen who were removed from the ship at Pearl Harbour "gave no evidence of any harmful effects from slight exposure.”