29 May, 1963

Professor Igor Tamm
Lebedev's Physical Institute
Academy of Sciences
MOSCOW B-134, USSR

Dear Professor Tamm:

It was a pleasure to see you again - a few days ago on the television screen.
Your message wes a moving one: it reminded me of the first speeches we ex-
changed at Stockholm when we first met, What a sense of frustration when
every gesture of common humanity must be entangled with the hard bargaining
and suspicion you refer to. So I fully agree that it is hard to see how
“negotiations” can really get very far without some basis of common purpose
and understanding. The trouble is that even the humblest proposals to do
something for this again becomes entangled in negotiations and parrying for
advantage, real or imagined, It really would be a remarkable step forward if
private individuals, I hope Soviet as well as American and others, could take
some feeble, tangible initiatives at reinstating human communication,

I certainly share your feelings in this matter - as do most of the scientists

I know, no matter who is quoted in the newspapers; but I have little to offer

by way of constructive suggestions. At nearer hand, we might find some more
useful thoughts out of the inspiration of informal conversation. But I see
no occasion for my own travel; is there any possibility of yours?

I would like to recommend a vicarious contact, one reason for my writing now,
My friend and colleague, Dr. Elliott Levinthal (who works with me on our extra-
terrestrial biology project) is visiting Moscow next month after the COSPAR
meeting in Warsaw, Having also seen you on television he is very keen to meet
you; I would regard any courtesy you can show him as a personal favor. He
can be reached in Warsaw at the COSPAR Symposium, Zaklad Astronomii PAN, Aleje
Ujazdowskie 4, Warsawa, Poland June 6-13 and through Intourist, Moscow, K-600
June 14-20, He will make his own efforts to contact you; however, if this
letter reaches you in good time I would suppose a message for him could
simplify his efforts,

With all best remembrances,

Cordtally,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

? P eat le nape

Ke oh Ayre ee ze
Se es 5 ttn Hot fa,

Www VL