March 28, 1961

Or. Hugh Odi shaw

Spece Science Board

1145 19th Street, N.W., Room 716
Washington 6, B.C.

Sear Nugh:

1 know you must be pretty busy now trying to get set for ofcarn
meeting. | hope | am not being too troublesome In not wanting to

wild goose chase.

| would appreciate It very much If you would follow through on
what | consider to be our present agreed arrangement. if, after your
arrival in Florence, you tndeed find that a particularly useful purpose
might be served If 1 attended, | would appreciate it If you would call
me. | have standby reservations for the l2th just in case and could
travel on something like 24-48 hours notice. The circumstance that would
justify the expense, time and discomfort of my travelling too would be If
there were representation from the Russiens or from other significant
forelgn groups competent to discuss problems related to exoblology or to do
some explicit tangible plenning for a later meeting. At the moment it
does not look as if this will be the case and consequently there would
appear to be little substance to the discussions in respect to biology.

tn the clreumstances, | would like to leave it to your am Judgment
how to handie the hotel reservations Indicated In Joel's memorandum.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics