Operation Hurricane - Press Conference Questions

When the Prime Minster announced at a Press Conference that Operation Hurricane had been successful, the UK Government prepared answers to potential questions that may be raised.

Question 4 - Did you pick up any fish? Were they all right to eat?

Answer - No fish were seen by ships.

Question 8 - From the Naval point of view, have any new lessons about atomic warfare, or design of ships to meet atomic attack, been learnt?

Answer - It is too early to say.

Question 2 - How much work (i.e. taxpayers' money) required to prepare them for the trial?

Answer - Round about one million pounds was spent in preparing ships for the trial.

Question 6 - Was it true that PLYM has been sunk? Was the bomb in her?

Answer - PLYM was used as a target for the trial and was sunk. No comment re the bomb.

Question 7 - Which ship actually took the bomb from England to the Montebellos?

Answer - No Comment

No mention of the two brave R.A.A.F officers who tried to save the drowning man at COCOS.

All personnel were reminded to not say anything to the Press or other persons about the test.

Regulation of service personnel will be governed by Queens' regulations. Only remarks by senior offices which are referenced in the Prime Minister's statement should be given. Civilian personnel are governed by the Official Secrets Act.

All concerned with meeting the Press should be especially on their guard against unwittingly giving any restricted information when answering cleverly worded supplementary questions.

Conclusion

The Ministry of Defence seemed more concerned with the Press than with the welfare of their own personnel, reams of documentation related to the Press and Official statements. They were paranoid about the tests and the press discovering the truth about the contamination and the long-term effects.

But to state that the ships saw no fish is pushing the limits on reality!