2101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE CABLE avineron NARECO
WASHINGTON 25, D. Cc. WA » D.C.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SPACE SCIENCE BOARD

17 August 1959

Dr. Hugh Odishaw, Executive Director
NAS Space Science Board

1145 19th Street, N.W#.

Washington, D.C.

Dear Hugh:

In the statement of Loftus E. Becker, Alternate Representative of
the United States to the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on the
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, concerning “Legal Problems which may
arise in the Exploration of Outer Space” (see U.S. Mission to the
United Nations Press Release No. 3179, May 7, 1959), I find the
following statement:

“The question of relations with extra-terrestrial life,
if discovered, should have a low priority at this time.
VI. This then is the official thinking of my Government...“

I can only interpret this statement as directly contrary to the
formal action of ICSU, which places extra-terrestrial contamination
very near the top of the needs for international reement. The
history of CETEX, and the SSB's emphasis on the effects of contami-
nation through the Lederberg Committee, highlight the importance
that science places on this subject.

I can only hope that Becker's statement was made in complete ignorance
of the high priority on international agreement science genera ly
places on control of the interaction between terrestrial and extra-
terrestrial life.

Would you initiate inquiries among those responsible for this
statement, concerning the reasons underlying the formation of this
position? Perhaps a rather thorough and authoritative briefing of
the compelling reasons for high priority in this matter can bring a
prompt and reasonable change of this position.

Sincerely yours,

L. V. Berkner
Chairman

P.S. Quite frankly, I fear the lawyers of either NASA or State
Dr. Hugh Gdishaw
Page Two
17 August 1959

have put their collective foot in their mouth through failure to
study the scientific lications of their position, There is an
easy but awkward “out” by contending that the statement refers to
the higher forms of life, though it is doubtful that many knowledge-
able persons would accept such an assumption.

LVB
cc Hartline
Aederbesg
Urey
Rossi
Signed in Dr. Berkner's absence