“ The Japanese are no less sensitive than Americans to the terrifying aspects of chemical warfare agents, and probably are a good deal more so.With their well known "nuclear allergy" as a basis, the Japanese are easily aroused by scare reports of radioactive pollution of their waters, and of other "evils" associated with US bases in Japan and Okinawa, such as jet noises, danger of crashing planes and dropped objects, and contamination of local wells by seepage from gasoline storage tanks. ”

“ However, "nerve gas" is a more volatile issue, much in the news these days. Japanese leftists, moreover, are hurting for a good rallying cause in their lagging campaign against the Sato government's handling of the Okinawan and Mutual Security Treaty issues with the US. They may well be tempted to try to give this present incident a good propaganda ride. ”