PUGWASH /CONTINUING COMMITT BE

———

Chairmen: The Barl Russell

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14th March, 1959.

Dear Or. Lederberg,

During the last two years three international meetings of scientists,
known as Pugwash Conferences, were held to discuss the critical problems posed
for mankind as a result of the advance of science. At the last conference,
held in Austria in September, 1958, a Continuing Committee was elected to
organize further activities.

One of the activities contemplated by the Committee is the calling of
& private meeting of eminent microbiologists and chemists to consider the
problems of biological and chemical warfare. This letter is in the nature of
an informal enquiry whether you would be interested in participating in such
a meeting.

The purpose of the meeting would be to examine the potentialities of
biological and chemical warfare both as weapons of mass destruction and as
a factor increasing international tensions, through the possibilities of
smaller countries being capable of producing such weapons. An assessment
would be made of the strategic and tactical possibilities in warfare with
biological and chemical weapons, as compared with nuclear weapons.

The discussions would be completely private but the group may find it
possible to formulate, at the end, a statement outlining the general
conclusions reached, so thet governments, scientists and the public would
have the benefit of an authoritative estimate of biglogical and chemical
warfare in the overall problem of achieving world security.

Attached is a list of scientists to whom I am writing concerning this
matter. Following receipt of the answers, a decision would be taken on the
convening of such a meeting. Tentatively, the meeting would be held in
September in North America or Europe. Expenses of the participants would be
met out of the funds we hope to have available.

The Conference would probably last about one week. In order to ensure
the maximum use of the time, working documents would have to be prepared in
advance by various participants and circulated to Conference members before
the meeting. Suggested topic headings for the Conference are attached and
we should welcome any comments on these.

'y lyyArsslha
Flease send your reply to:-

Frofessor J. Rotblat, v
The Medical College of St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
Charterhouse Square, London, £.C.1

Yours sincerely,

J Oe detec ewd Le Ce

Dr. Joshua Lederberg,
Department of Biology,
Stanford University,
Stanford,

California,

U.S.A.
PUGWASH CONTINUING COMMITTEE

Suggested topics for Conference on
Biological and Chemical Warfare,

1. The potentialities of chemicals, bacteria and their
toxins, viruses and rickettsial organisms, as weapons of
war against human, animal populations end plant life, when
used (a) as a strategic weepon for ass attack; (b) as a
tactical weapon in localized areas,

2, Production and delivery require:snts of these weapons
for warfare purposes by countries of differing economic and

scientific development,

3. Problems of control through international agreement,

Scientists to whom this letter is sent

Australia
Sir F, Macfarlane Burnet
Canada

Dr, Brock Chisholm
Dr, A.J, Rhodes
China

Dr, Tang Fei-Fang

Denmark
Dr, Preben von Magnus

France

Dr, Andre Lwoff
Dr. P, Thibault
South Africa
Dr,J,H,5,Gear

Sweden
Dr, Sven Gard

U.K.

Dr, A, Bradford Hill
Dr, A, Haddow

Dr, A,A,Miles

Dr, Kenneth F,Smith
Dr,E,T.S, Spooner

U,S,A

he fnree ©

Dr, Rene J,Dubos

Dr, Renato Dulbecco
Dr, F,O, Holmes

Dr, Martin M, Kaplan
Dr, Joshua Lederberg
Dr, Franklin Maclean
Dr, Kenneth F, Maxcy
Dr, kK, F, Meyer
Dr,d,H, Muller

Dr, Theodor Rosebury
Dr, Albert Sabin

Dr, Yendell M, Stenley
Dr, Max Theiler

U5, 5, F.

Dr, A, A, smorodintsev
Dr, V,M, shdanov

(In addition, several nuclear physicists and
other people with knowledge on methods of
delivery of weapons may attend).