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JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT March 22, 1989

Academician Vadim Ivanov

Director

Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry
UL. Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10

117871 GSP-7 Moscow V-437, USSR

Dear Vadim:

We have been working hard to prepare for our next joint BW
working group meeting in London in just a few days.

To help make the most productive use of our meeting time, I
thought it might be useful to share with you in advance some of
the ideas we have been developing for discussion at the London
meeting.

Enclosed you will find think pieces written by some of our
working group members. These papers reflect only the views of
their authors and are intended to be starting points for further
discussion and work.

Allow me to describe in brief what you will find in this
package:

1) A paper from John Steinbruner addressing the issue of
how one might define in quantitative terms the line
between permitted and prohibited research under the
Biological Weapons Convention. Under the scheme he
discusses, agents would be categorized according to
their BW potental. Those agents in the higher
categories of concern would be subject to disclosure.
He envisions a two-tier scheme whereby possessing
amounts of agent above the lower threshold would
require that these amounts be disclosed. Amounts above
the second, higher threshold would be strictly
prohibited unless disclosed, justified, and as a result
there was mutal agreement that the purpose was
legitimate and justified exceeding the probibition
threshold in that particular case. I believe there is
much here for us to discuss, including the
categorization of agents and the precise quantitative
limits which would trigger disclosure or prohibition.

2) A paper from Robert Chanock on the issue of
distinguishing defensive from offensive R&D,
particularly as the problem relates to recombinant
research.
3) My discussion paper on the status of toxins under the
Biological Weapons Convention. The paper identifies
the problem that toxins are not defined in the
Convention and suggests for discussion several
alternatives for clarifying the existing uncertainties.

4) Some thoughts from Thomas Monath on issues surrounding
the continued vaccination of troops against small pox.

I hope this material reaches you in time to review and share
with your delegation. Please send a telex to the CISAC office
(telex number: 4900007626) to let us know that you received it.

My colleagues and I are looking forward to seeing you soon
in London.

Sincerely,

Aisa Kedubus  /igg

Joshua Lederberg
President
Rockefeller University