STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
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December 11, 1969

STANFORD UNIversiry ScHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Genetics

Mr. A. Schou
Nobel Peace Institute
Oslo, Norway

Dear Mr. Schou,

This is to follow up our conversation in Stockholm in which
I advocated a broadening of the mandate of the Nobel Peace Prize
to include those scientific studies which might have a direct
bearing on the rational ordering of human affairs towards the
peaceful solution of group conflict.

May I take the occasion now to recommend a concrete step
that would at least facilitate the consideration of such proposals
without imposing a binding commitment on you. I suggest merely that
you enlarge the field of qualified nominators for the peace prize
to include previous recipients of the other Nobel Prizes in the
sciences, medicine, and literature.

I would be happy to think that you would be burdened by a large
number of additional nominations for if this were the case it would
bespeak further intellectual attention to the problems of peace.

My expectations are more modest but in that same direction.

Having requested such a self-serving gratuity it probably is
already incumbent upon me to illustrate the point with some of my
own suggestions.

For their important clarification of the role of instinct in
aggressive behavior of animals and of men I would suggest
Nikolas Tinbergen and Konrad Lorenz. Their findings should be no
means be confused with the pernicious simplification that has been
advertised, for example, by Ardrey.

In another sphere, namely the specific contributions of
scientists towards initiatives for peace I would happily nominate
Jerry Wiesner for his remarkable role in the development of the non-
proliferation treaty. I am sure that you are already far more
acquainted with this than I could be.

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN MENTAL RETARDATION
°, . °
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HERFDITY NEUROBIOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE
Mr. A. Schou - 2 - 12/11/69

Finally, I would call to your attention a very able
scientist whose dedication to an extremely important peace-related
activity has just been crowned with a very significant concrete
action, namely President Nixon's recent statement concerning U.S.
policy on chemical and biological warfare. In my opinion this step
has an importance that transcends even the crucial issues of
biological weaponry as it may be a major avenue for international
consensus on problems on global concern. My candidate is
Professor Matthew Meselson about whom you may not have heard so
much but whose contributt@n to this field has been acurately
summarized in a recent profile in The New York Times, a copy of
which is enclosed.

I have already intruded myself too far but in the event that
there is indeed an avenue where people like myself can make explicit
nominations for the Peace Prize I would be happy to undertake the
effort of a more complete statement of justification.

Please accept my very best personal regards for Madame Schou
as well as yourself.

Sincerely yours,

VA vate.

" Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Geneti

   

1 Enclosure
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