Department of State Atomic Energy Files
Memorandum by the Chairman of the Joint Research and
Development Board (Bush) to the Secretary of
War (Patterson)1
top secret
Washington, 13 March
1947.
Subject: International Aspects of Bacteriological
Warfare
Reference (a): Memorandum,
Secretaries of War and Navy, dated 21 February 19472
Enclosure (A): Interim Report
- 1.
- The questions proposed by the memorandum, Reference (a), were referred to the Committee on Biological Warfare of
the Joint Research and Development Board for consideration and
recommendation.
- 2.
- Enclosure (A) is an interim report setting forth several of the most
important elements of this situation which can be commented upon by the
Committee immediately. The Board has not had time to investigate the
subject thoroughly, so it submits the enclosure without comment. The
enclosure was prepared after discussion of the implications of this
problem with Colonel P.M. Hamilton, Deputy to the War Department Member
of the State–War–Navy Executive Committee for Regulation of
Armaments.
- 3.
- A complete report considering the broad technical aspects of this
problem which may be of further assistance in the negotiations is in
preparation by the Committee. In the event that additional information
is required, prior to completion of the final report, the Board is
prepared to provide the assistance of the Committee on Biological
Warfare or members thereof.
- 4.
- It is considered highly desirable that a national policy in the field
of biological warfare for the future be formulated and adopted at an
early date. The Board, through its Committee, will attempt to provide
the factual basis for consideration of such a policy. This has not,
however, yet been accomplished.
[Page 430]
[Annex]
Interim Report
Subject: International Aspects of Bacteriological
Warfare
Reference (a): Memorandum from
Secretaries of War and the Navy dated 21 February 1947
- 1.
- Because of lack of time the Committee has been unable to make
careful assessment of the problem presented to it by reference (a).
- 2.
- Preliminary report presented here is for information of
appropriate United States personnel and is not to be made
public.
- 3.
- The Committee believes that certain agents of biological warfare
now in existence could be used against the United States by
saboteurs with sufficient effect to reduce materially the
agricultural production of this country.
- 4.
- The Committee believes that it may be possible to develop other
agents of biological warfare into weapons of real
effectiveness.
- 5.
- The Committee can envision no practicable scheme of inspection and
control which would be effective in controlling research directed
toward improving the effectiveness of biological agents as weapons
of warfare, nor in controlling production of effective amounts of
certain agents. Probably the class of biological warfare agents most
to be feared are self-propagating, highly infectious and highly
virulent agents of the epidemic-producing type. The necessary
research, development and production of such agents might be carried
out in almost any medical, veterinary or agricultural research
laboratory. The task of inspecting and controlling all such
laboratories seems totally impracticable.
- 6.
- Certainly any scheme of inspection and control of a type and size
sufficient to attain the objective of controlling research in the
production of biological warfare agents would severely hamper
research in public health, medicine and agriculture and would result
in throwing open the manufacturing and trade secrets of a large
section of American industry.
- 7.
- The Committee believes that it is not possible to establish a
system of control and inspection which would give mankind assurance
that biological warfare research, development and production would
not be prosecuted effectively. The Committee further believes that
any system of inspection of the biological laboratories and related
industries of the United States would work to the great disadvantage
of the economy of the United States.
- 8.
- The Committee will prepare a more detailed and complete report as
required. The Committee would appreciate receiving information as to
the desired content and as to the proposed use of such a
report.
