UNITED STATES SENATE LIBRARY
ROBERT L. F. SIKES, Florida
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GLENARD P. LIPSCOMB California
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. . . Staff Assistants (names barley readable on this copy = I did not include them)
1 Temporarily assigned
Department of the Army
Statement of Director, Advanced Research Project Agency
Statement of Director, Defense Research and EngineeringPrinted for the use or the Committee on Appropriations
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1969
There are two things about the biological agent field I would like to mention. One is the possibility of technological surprise. Molecular biology is a field that is advancing very rapidly and eminent biologists believe that within a period of 5 to 10 years it would be possible to produce a synthetic biological agent, an agent that does not naturally exist and for which no natural immunity could have been acquired.
Mr. Sikes. Are we doing any work in that field?
Dr. MacArthur. We are not.
Mr. Sikes.. Why not? Lack of money or lack of interest?
Dr. MacArthur. Certainly not lack ot interest
Mr. Sikes. Would you provide for our records information on what would be required, what the advantages of such a program would be.
the time and the cost involved?
Dr. MacArthur. We will be very happy to.
(The information follows:)
The dramatic progress being made in the field of molecular biology led us to
investigate the relevance of this field of science to biological warfare. A
small group of experts considered this matter and provided the following
observations:
The matter was discussed with the NAS-NRC. and tentative plans were made to initiate the program. However. decreasing funds in CB. growing criticism of the CB. program, and our reluctance to involve the NAS NRC in such a controversial endeavor have led us to postpone it for the past 2 years.
It is a highly controversial issue and there are many who believe such research should not be undertaken lest it lead to yet another method of massive killing of large populations. On the other hand, without the sure scientific knowledge that such a weapon is possible. and an understanding of the ways it could be done, there is little that can be done to devise defensive measures. Should an enemy develop it there is little doubt that this is an important area of potential military technological inferiority in which there is no adequate . . .