THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

 

May 1, 1970

Dr. Joshua Lederberg

Department of Genetics

Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, California 94305

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Regarding your proposed draft of a column for May 16
dealing with weather modification, there is no evidence
whatsoever that our seeding in any way affects the
direction of a hurricane. I wish you could find a
different moral dilemma than the one posed in your
column, for it is precisely this question that I would
not like to see raised without the comment, that while
we would like to be able to steer a hurricane, at present,
we haven't the foggiest idea of how to do it, and we are

ca both pleased and dismayed to know that our seeding appar-
ently has no affect on direction. I know this undercuts
the strength of the moral dilemma posed in your column,
but I am sure that you are better at thinking of new
examples than I shall be in thinking of ways to rebutt
the arguments that will be raised.

Your May 9 column is magnificent! D hock fo uta tot

at nn KB /
Sincerely, ~ “4 7

  

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