Dr. Mug0 c. mAf%,
AdfalniotFative eherjlrm,
Fadoration of Amrican Scfonti323,
1749 L StFmt, N.U.,
Woshingtm 6, D. C.

aan me this poesibiility moat aoutely in rqmC, to tie dmmlcpxmt

olrilitmy attaaka on enemy csrecll qriatultuse. The problop~ of ratmnetion
is not insurmun~le became a) it 1s quite likely that the te&nique
of l.n vitro cultivation of rusts will mm be perfected, if it hae r,ot        m
been already, b) the predo&t'varfetisa adapted to altitia ooozditiona
of different oountrios ahoPB rmrked diffarermces in aumsptLbXUty to
different ram8 of the pathogq and o) it ehould not be difficult to


harvest zposes in irPolation plot&i at semom (or under giios8) when their

aprsod can be controlled. The gemtics of pothogez~icity ia better under-

etciod in the ruts than in my other raicsobe , and theproblem of developing

pathogens whlfch would be spocFfim.Uy active against the en&qy"e agriculture

would hero aost readily be solved. Although ad&ttedly this type of attack

LB r.09; &dfielently reliable to be used ae a pr8m3sy wmpon, the gxpscsbtion

cf success shcllld certainly h high anmgh (;hat ftwculd JustlXy the m&a-

tivsly cmd.1 bnmstaent needed.

   With regard ta I33 againbt man, t!!a point Pa rightly made both here ad

in the Rosobury&abat mticle, that rstrmction may be the chief consS3ration.

I hove bmn ispresaed wit41 the possibU.ity, htswm-c=l, that In desperation, one

country dght be milling to assxz~ the risks cf usizg highly retzxzctiva agmt~
(such as, fzr rxcmple, pnemcnla plq3e) althq$~ such use nxU CX&~ Atiitary

occqxitfon imposs&le. 1!oW8vttr, it seem3 likely that this kind cf stm+U.zation

can be effected nearly as efficientcty with radioactive -pofsms. Tho use of

ES7 in this wqy aQht tiersfore be expected to originate fron corzntrfee which

have bsen attacked VCN-A a prepondermcs of uid%taxy poasr in the forra of atmic

Weapons, a& fOF WhQiil m might be the o.ay FecoUX-se.

   I cannot envis~s tie possibility of effective intxm-iatimal ccntrol. of

Ii7 research. In contrast to at*sdc devokapmmt, W'i would reqtltio a EJ.R&XL~ cf

hndustrk&L tquipmnt, 83 tit inapesttlcn cotid not be possible un.?.eas Avery

hpum in avmyu   b could bs ~mrche& To h",qm to restrict the %qm%atfton +

of antircpoida &em no more reablck3.c then &I effort to contra1 the agar

Fndustxy, cr the distribution c% e&:yor.nted eggs.

   Thsre is no doubt that there is great need for public sducatdon on t.ke

problem cl: EM. FortunateLy, I dongt bslisve that the senaatFom.?. publicity

has been than vasy seriously. E?ut it cculd certainly do a great deal of

good to eqhasizn the need for expaxied publ3.c health services, and the fact

that a great deal of research ia undmbtcdlg being carried on on defemlve


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aapeato of BY, md that this work may be of publio benefit far beyond lta

application3 to military securhty.

As far aa endoraament of a public report is concerned, however,

I cannot help but feel that the&..litary program holds the aae. E'r'hatever
an outside group might say would neceasarUy be aubJect to modUication

not be morst useful, therbforw, to emk 8n offfoial endoroement of a report
8uch a8 this, or to pram for a comparabL3 `but authoritative atataent

frum the Secretary of Defense?

   Josho Laderbtarg,
A8f3i3b?t Prcfessor of Cen0tbx3.