Dr Moore and Dr Smithies prepared a chronology showing knowledge of the link between AIDS and Factor 8. It was recorded that throughout 1983 the Government's public line was that there was "no conclusive evidence AIDS was transmitted by blood products" and that DHSS had taken a "precautionary stance" and assumed that AIDS was transmitted by an infective agent. However, it wasn't until December 1984 that the Department publicly acknowledged the link between AIDS and Factor 8.