COPY
COSPAR

COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH, ESTABLISHED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS

PRESIDENT: SECRETARIAT:
PROF. H. C. VAN DE HULST 28 NIEUWE SCHOOLSTRAAT
STERREWACHT THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS
LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS TELEGRAMS: COSPAR THE HAGUE
TELEPHONE: 183890
HOH/ rl 61/426, 34 July 1961.

rrofessor M. Florin,
Hotel Kube.s,
Buckinghar Palace Road,

hou@gor se 1,

ENGLAND
Dear Professor Florkina,

You may wish to have for your file this copy of a rougi. translation
of the letter which I received on 25 July from Academician <isakian
and wnich was copied by nis directly toe you, Professor Lederberg
and Professor Thompson. before tris letter was received, I nad sent
a telegram on July 27th to rrofessor blagonravov reading:

~- Foreign participante fur informal discussion 9 August moscow on
extra terrestrial life heve ali been invited etep we shell appreciate
your heip in maxing sure that competent russian delegation will take
part. - van de Hulst.

The answer to this telegram, received to-day, read:

~ Informal discussion on extra terrestriai iife is planned 17 August
-one rusaian scientists will taxe part.= Biagonravov.

This snows,that after all, tiey appear to have selected the 17th in-
stead of the $th (which was initially auggested by Professor Thonpson).
cvidently this is a matter which we hava to leave to our hosts.

This completes tie formal preparation of tiis inforsel meeting. I an
most thanxful ror the active part, you and Professor Thospson have
taxen in arranging this. For the rest, we have to rely on the spirit
of cooperation and the power of improvisation to make this weeting
successrul.

I should be glad if you could, during the opening of tiis informal
meeting, give my greetings to the participants and express on behaif
of CO:rAR the beet wishes for a fruitful exchange of scientific ideas
and the hope that this meeting may contribute both tc « deeper under-
standing of oné of the most fundamental problecs of the cosmos aud to
@ iasting world-wide cooperatio: 1: active research on cosmic life,
one of the most advanced ventures of mankind.

cc: Prof. Lederberg,y “incerely yours,
Prof. Thomoson,

JA
Dr. Porter H. Comes Het

el. Van de Hulst.