I Authority 4ee - I t-r iF l JBl wlg JOINT TASK FORCE ONE a File No A7ml Washington D C Serial 1923 2 April 19H6 ESTRICTED From Commander Joint Task Force ONE To All Personnel in Joint Task Force ONE Subj Publicity Regarding Operation CROSSROADS 1 All personnel in Joint Task Force One undoubtedly realize that one of the most important end results of our forthm coming Operations lies in the cenfidence and acceptance of these results by all agencies of the War and Navy Departments the Congress other branches of the government and the general public Continuous efforts must be maintained to assure that the true scope impartiality and joint nature of these tests are completely understood - 2 The general public must not obtain the erroneous impression that the sole purpose of the tests is to determine the effects of atomic explosives against naval vessels The public must realize that the Army and the Navy and other branches of the government are cboperating in these tests net with the intent to prove something or to disprove something or with the belief that the tests will once and foreVer establish whether there will be a great or small air force naVy or ground force The American public must not await the Bikini tests with such a misconception Nothihg is further from the truth We seek nothing but information acquired by scientific methods From this information it will be possible to improve our military and naval equipment and tactics in the unfortunate eVent of an atomic war Much information of great value to science medicine and industry will also be obtained 3 With the concurrence of the Secretaries of War and Navy the Joint Chiefs of Staff have centralized in me the control of all War and Navy Department publicity on CROSSROADS I urge that all personnel in this task force in all-their relations with the public be guided by the thoughts eXpressed in this letter s r BLANDY Vice Admiral United States Navy Commander Joint Task Force ONE if ya til a BER s Flag Secretary