August 26, 1959

Dr. Lloyd Berkner

Assoclated Universities, Inc.
Suite 1750, Coliseum Tower
10 Columbus Circle

New York 19, New York

Dear Dr. Berkner:

Thank you for the coples of your letters dated 17 August addressed
to Or. Thomas Francis and Dr. Hugh Odishaw respectively.

| am particularly pleased at Francis' enlistment especially
in relation to the long-range problem of back contamination.

As to Becker's statement, when | first read this myself | had
to belleve that "relations with extraterrestrial ltife'’ had to do
with the possibility of Intelligent life and should have no bearing
on Issues connected with blological research. If there Is any doubt
about this then of course we must meke every effort to apprise the
State Department people of the sclentific Imp! ications.

On the whole It seems to me very nearly futile to attempt to
conserve scientific objectives through political negotiation. |
don't have the optimism In me to believe that we and the Russians
could negotiate a formal agreement which by the remotest Implication
could place any restraint on the pursuance of space programs. On
these premises It may be just as wall If contamination problems are
left out of political negotiations at the United Nations level. Of
course they have to be stressed In scientific contacts for example
Cospar. In any case |! would share your concern to know the reasons
that would underlie the formulation of Becker's quoted position.

It Is hard for ine to belleve that any offictal policy tn this area
could have been formulated without consultation with the groups on
which you are represented.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics