ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

 

Dear Professor Lederberg:

I am writing you to tell you about the Advanced Research Projects
Agency, and to invite you to participate in a small Top Secret study
and work group here in Washington, July 14 to August 2.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency has been assigned re-
sponsibility for space technology, defense against ballistic missiles,
and such other advanced research as may be designated by the Secretary
of Defense. ARPA reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and has
funds with which to pursue programs in its area of responsibility.

In connection with the identification of advanced projects, the
Secretary of Defense, Honorable Neil H. McElroy, has approved a study
group to identify problems not now receiving adequate attention where
science can contribute vitally to the national security and to recom-
mend agreed technical, and perhaps organizational, means for the
solution of these problems and for the continuing identification of
important new problems. A study of these new scientific areas is an
important approach to improving our defense situation.

The Institute for Defense Analyses has been asked to assume
responsibility for this study, and I have asked Eugene Wigner,
Oskar Morgenstern, and John Wheeler (chairman) to act as a committee
of three to arrange the study and work program. In collaboration with
Dr. A. G. Hill, Vice President and Director of Research of IDA, and
myseif, they are to work out a program of briefing by responsible
Department of Defense individuals about urgent issues of defense, of
limited warfare, and certain other aspects of national security.

The program committee anticipates that these briefings will
occupy from one to three hours a day. The rest of the time is to be
left free for such informal discussions, individual consultations,
reference work and calculations as may seem appropriate. Because of
the responsibility of the group, every effort is being made to give it
as much freedom of action as possible. Whether you recommend what to
do to get new means of communication on the battlefield, or to get high
temperature alloys, or to get improved protection from blast and burns,
or whether you recommend quite a different measure, where there is
a belief that a contribution to national security will be made, it will
be appreciated.

Hoping that you will accept this request, may I ask you to wire
your reply to me at the above address. Since it will be necesssery for
us to obtain Department of Defense Top Secret clearance for all group
members, I request that you give your current clearance, including the
issuing agency.

Members of the group will be reimbursed for travel and living
expenses, and will receive remuneration for their time.

If you can come, you will hear shortly about rooms and other
arrangements from this office, and about the program from the Com-
mittee of Three.

We hope to make hotel arrangements to keep the group together
to allow the maximum time for productive informal discussions. On the
two weekends occurring in this period it is expected that there will
be no formal briefings and everyone will be free to follow his own
inclinations. However, it is anticipated that a number of panel members
will wish to continue active, therefore conference rooms, classified
documents, and all other relevant aids will continue to be provided.

Sincerely yours,

hy LAA sg ax) # i %

Herbert F. York
Chief Scientist

Professor Joshua Lederberg

Chairman, Medical Genetics Department
University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin