But the success of the first two tests, together with the increas- 

 ing shortage of military personnel and available civilian scientists, 

 caused reconsideration of the desirability of holding this third 

 test. And on September 7, 1946, President Truman, acting with 

 the advice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, postponed the test indefi- 

 nitely. His statement was as follows : 



"In view of the successful completion of the first 

 two atomic bomb tests of Operation Crossroads and 

 the information derived therefrom, the Joint Chiefs 

 of Staff have concluded that the third explosion, Test 

 C, should not be conducted in the near future. . . . 



"The additional information of value expected to 

 result from Test C is such that the Joint Chiefs of 

 Staff do not feel that completion of the test in the near 

 future is justified." 



206 



