▁broad ly ▁described ▁as ▁bi ological ▁war fare , ▁it ▁seems ▁advis able ▁that ▁investig ations ▁be ▁initi ated ▁to ▁survey ▁the ▁present ▁situation ▁and ▁the ▁future ▁possibilities . ▁I ▁am ▁therefore , ▁asking ▁if ▁you ▁will ▁undert ake ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁an ▁appropriate ▁committee ▁to ▁survey ▁all ▁phases ▁of ▁this ▁matter . ▁Your ▁organization ▁already ▁has ▁before ▁it ▁a ▁request ▁from ▁The ▁Sur geon ▁General ▁for ▁the ▁appointment ▁of ▁a ▁committee ▁by ▁the ▁Division ▁of ▁Medical ▁Sciences ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Research ▁Council ▁to ▁examine ▁one ▁phase ▁of ▁the ▁matter . ▁ ▁In ▁response ▁the ▁NAS ▁formed ▁a ▁committee , ▁the ▁War ▁Bureau ▁of ▁Cons ult ants ▁( W BC ), ▁which ▁issued ▁a ▁report ▁on ▁the ▁subject ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁The ▁report , ▁among ▁other ▁items , ▁recommended ▁the ▁research ▁and ▁development ▁of ▁an ▁off ensive ▁bi ological ▁weapons ▁program . ▁ ▁The ▁British , ▁and ▁the ▁research ▁undert aken ▁by ▁the ▁W BC , ▁press ured ▁the ▁U . S . ▁to ▁begin ▁bi ological ▁weapons ▁research ▁and ▁development ▁and ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁U . S . ▁President ▁Franklin ▁Ro ose vel t ▁officially ▁approved ▁an ▁American ▁bi ological ▁weapons ▁program . ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁information ▁provided ▁by ▁the ▁W BC , ▁Ro ose vel t ▁ordered ▁Stim son ▁to ▁form ▁the ▁War ▁Research ▁Service ▁( WR S ). ▁Est ab lished ▁within ▁the ▁Federal ▁Security ▁Agency , ▁the ▁W RS ' ▁stated ▁purpose ▁was ▁to ▁promote ▁" public ▁security ▁and