Henry L. Stimson- External URL
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Date: 21 Sep 1867
- Died
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Date: 20 Oct 1950
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Born
21 Sep 1867
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Died
20 Oct 1950
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Cited byG.W. Merck, 'Historical Report of War Research Service', Nov. 1944. National Academy of Sciences Archives. Committees on Biological Warfare. Box 5 Series 4: War Research Service.
Description:'CHRONOLOGY ON B.W.
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August 21, 1941 - Central Scientific Committee of the Office of Emergency Management agreed that the Secretary of War should authorise the Chief of Chemical Warfare Service and the Surgeon General to proceed with study and specified responsibilities.
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October 1, 1941 - Secretary of War Stimson requests National Academy of Sciences to appoint a committee to survey whole field of biological warfare. WBC Committee appointed with Dr. E.B. Fred as Chairman.
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March 24, 1942 - Secretary of War requests General Staff for advice re agency and personnel for B.W. work. Staff recommends a civilian agency.
April 29, 1942 - Secretary of War writes President presenting need for B.W. agency and suggesting it be placed in Federal Security Agency.
May 15, 1942 - Oral O.K. from President on Secretary's proposal.
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December 18, 1943 - War Research Service writes Secretary of War asking permission to request Chemical Warfare Service to manufacture and stockpile certain B.W. agents.
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January 13, 1944 - Secretary of War issues directive giving Chemical Warfare Service responsibility for large part of B.W. weapons program with the cooperation of the Surgeon General in defensive matters, and redefining the responsibilities of WRS.
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May 12, 1944 - The Secretary of War and Mr. McNutt write President recommending that entire B.W. program be made responsibility of War Department.
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June 15, 1944 - George W. Merck appointed a Consultant to the Secretary of War on all matters pertaining to biological warfare.
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October 1, 1944 - Secretary of War defines the B.W. responsibilities of Army Service Forces.
October 11, 1944 - United States Biological Warfare Committee established. A policy forming Committee to advise the Secretary of War on B.W. George W. Merck appointed Chairman.' (ff. 8-11)
'Early Steps Taken by the U.S. Government in Relation to B.W.
Before there was any unification of activity in b.w. several United States Government groups considered this subject independently and their efforts form the logical beginning of any narrative.
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On July 15, 1941 the Office of the Surgeon General, USA, requested a committee of civilian scientists be set up to review the entire field. Before action was taken, the Office of the Secretary of War had begun an independent exploration of means by which the branches of the military services might most effectively combine in dealing with b.w. This resulted in a meeting being called by Mr. Harvey H. Bundy, Special Assistant to the Secretary of War, comprising representatives of the SGO, CWS, NAS and NRC. It was decided at this time:
1. That the Surgeon General (presumably because of the doctor's Hippocratic oath) could be responsible only for the defensive aspects of the problem, and that the Chemical Warfare Service would explore the offensive aspects.
2. That two civilian committees of scientists be formed to investigate all phases of b.w.
3. That the Navy be apprised of these plans and asked to collaborate.
However, the Secretary of War, evidently feeling that further study was necessary before issuing directives to implement these conclusions, requested only the formation of the two civilian committees made up of the highest level of scientists from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council. These two civilian committess were merged into one and named for purposes of security, the WBC Committee, with Dr. E.B. Fred as Chairman. This Committee made a complete study and its reports have formed the basis for all future planning, both military and civilian, in the realm of b.w.' (ff. 13-14)
