Alain Rambach
Institut Pasteur
Paris 15
FRANCE
17 Jan 1977
Dear Paul,
I would like to tell you
(A) that two opinions have spread, among others, in Europe:
(1) that Stanford asked for "safety limitations" to block others from working in genetic engineering
(2) that Stanford tries to keep for itself the possible economic advantages of scientific discoveries in a whole new field.
(B) that, back in France, I have been telling that not only (1) has no meaning but also that personnaly [sic] you, Paul Berg, went to this safety business only when, in 72 or 73, someone put up to your mind as a scientific problem the possibility of a potential danger. About (2), after I asked your opinion in October 76, you told me clearly that personnaly [sic] you were against most aspects of a patent covering the applications of a whole new scientific field and that you would send to me a copy of the letter you wrote to the NIH to present your opinion on the matter.
I have never said that (1) was true or that you were pushing for (2). I keep all my admiration for your teaching and I am very respectfully yours,
Alain