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T33- O September 16, 1980

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Mr. John J. McCloy

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza

New York, New York 10005

Dear Mr. McCloy:

I was most interested to see your note about von
Schlabrendorff in your recent letter to The New York Times.
His heroic career had come to my attention through Peter
Hoffmann's book on the German resistance, in terms quite
consistent with your letter.

For many years I have been an avid but amateur student
of our policy of "unconditional surrender" and its implica-
tions for the extraordinarily diffident way that we dealt
with the German resistance during World War II. Although
Allen Dulles made some oblique references to it in one of
his books, this subject, in my opinion, has never been ade-
quately addressed. For example, Dulles left some ominous
hints questioning to what extent his reports from Berne
about the resistance actually reached appropriately high
quarters in Washington. If these had been routed through.
London it is possible that some of Kim Philby's boasts may
have had some substance; but perhaps we need not strain so
far in conspiratorial interpretation.

At any rate the appearance of your letter reminded me
that you might be, if you were willing, an extraordinarily
competent source for illumination of the history of that
policy: the extent to which possible alternative options may
have been considered, and the role of reliable intelligence
in reaching high policy conclusions.

I've had a glancing opportunity to meet you once or
twice (in David Rockefeller's company) but never, as yet,
to enjoy a leisurely chat: which is what I would like to ask
Mr. John J. McCloy
September 16, 1980

-~2-

of you at this time. Best of all would be if I could pre-
vail on you to take lunch with me here at the University
at some time of your own convenience if that is not too
great an imposition on it.

sincerely,

f

nha Lederberg

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