◆ SpookStack

the morning of March 7, 1950, Special Agent McSWAIN of this office by Mr. HOWARD WOODSIDE, U. S. AEC Security Division, of steps taken by AEC in this regerd. Mr. WOODSIDE stated that immediately upon receiving the report from me, he had made the mtter known to the proper authoritios at AEC and carly the following morning he had conversed with Colonel JOHN MEADE, 3r@ Army Headquarters, Atlenta, Georgia, and apprised him of the matter. Mr. WOODSIDE stated he also conversed with lith Air Force Headqnertors at Greenville, South Carolina and advised them of the matter. He stated thet this was strictly in accordance with the plans drawn up between ABO and the evmed forces for protection against air or lend assault. He continued that the AEC has neither the facilities nor the equipment with which to defend itself in such emergencies and that such responsibility head been essumed by these agencies of the military forces, Tt would appear from the manner in which this incident was handled that despite the fact that all egenciss seomed to be opereting in the manner prescribed by agreement, and although each was apprised of the action being teken by the other and cooperating in every respect, there novertholess seemed to be an impressive lack of any agency actually taking the responsibility for the situation and taking any action to verify or disrrove the threat. Hed @ similar incident oscurrved wherein an actuel threst against the physical security of the AEC Installation hed been experienced, it is not implausible to believe that a similar confused fixing of final authority would heve been found, It should be noted that many hours elapsed from the receiving of the first report witil such time as any reasonable conclusion could be reached concerning the matter and nothing of a positive nnture with regerd to eny action being taken had been had during ell that time. While it is now felt that this entire mtter was in e mmer of spesking “dry run", it nevertheless warrants som consideration from a procedural stendpoint and might be worthy of discussion at some liaison meting im the future. The Bureau will be immediately sdvised 1f there are any further developments in this mtter,.