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Say Russian Atomic Particles On Japan

TOKYO (AP)- A Socialist Diet member said today atomic particles are falling on Japan from Russian A-bomb tests near the Arctic Circle.

Shigeyoshi Matsumae, an engineer, said this information was "gleaned from American military quarters." He refused to elaborate.

The U. S. Far East Command had no comment.

Matsumae's statement to newsmen followed release of a report yesterday by the right - wing Socialist party, of which he is a member. The Socialists are pushing a resolution in the Diet calling on the U. N. to ban atomic weapons and urging international control of atomic energy.

The report said small quantities of radioactive ash fall on Japan about three times every two weeks from Russian explosions in Siberia.

"The United States has confirmed through these ashes that Russia possesses atomic bombs," the report said. "The ashes take three days to reach Japan and take one week to circle the globe."

Government weather forecaster Hiroshi Ito told Kyodo news service Russian atomic particles could fall in Japan. He said prevailing winds are westerly throughout the year.

The report of Russian tests stirred anew the controversy over radiation burns suffered by 23 Japanese fishermen who were too close to a U. S. hydrogen blast at Bikini March 1.

Developments included:

A joint Japan-American group continued work on treatment of the fishermen, all of whom were reported better today by Dr. Masao Tsuzuki.

American Ambassador John M. Allison notified the Foreign Office the United States is ready to pay for medical care and relief of the families of the 23 fishermen. This follows a statement by Chairman W. Sterling Cole (R-NY) of the Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee that the United States will make no commitment to pay damages until responsibility is determined.

Japan asked the United States for an explosion timetable on future Marshall Island tests because of placing of danger signs around the zone is not enough, Kyodo declared.

Foreign Minister Okazaki said the police have been warned to be on the lookout for "certain persons" - Communists - trying to buy or steal radioactive samples from the Lucky Dragon - the fishing boat showered with radioactive ash near Bikini.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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There is currently no available "Beginner" label. The following is the default level label: This article from the Greenfield, Massachusetts, Recorder reports the impact of Russian atomic testing on Japan. A member of the Japanese Diet, or Parliament, reports that "radioactive ash" from a Russian blast in Siberia had fallen on the country. Japan was (and is) the only country to experience atomic attack, having been bombed twice by nuclear weapons at the end of the Second World War. Atomic tests in the Pacific region caused great concern in Japan. An American test in Pacific on March 1, 1954 caused radiation burns to Japanese fisherman. Relatively little was known in the early 1950s about the indirect impacts of nuclear testing, particularly so-called "nuclear fallout."

 

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"Say Russian Atomic Particles Falling On Japan" article in the Greenfield Recorder-Gazette newspaper

publisher   Greenfield Recorder-Gazette
date   Mar 25, 1954
location   Greenfield, Massachusetts
width   1.75"
height   9.5"
process/materials   printed paper, ink
item type   Periodicals/Newspaper
accession #   #L07.018


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"Britain Gets Jitters Over Hydrogren Bomb" article in Greenfield Recorder-Gazette newspaper


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