DEAR MR. MITCHELL:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00391R000100180030-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: January 30, 1958
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved. For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP61-00391 R0001 00180030-8
C THE UNIVERSITY MJSWM
0 University of Pennsylvania
January 30, 1958
Mr. Laurence Mitchell
East-West Contacts Office
Department of State
Washington, D. C.
Since I gathered from our phone conversation that you already have
had something to do with this proposed conference on the Arctic, to be
held in Copenhagen in May, I am sending one copies of the invitation
from the National Museum, in Copenhagen and a personal letter from
Birket-Smith. The Conference will not be held, of course, if the Rus-
sians do not accept. As you know, its principle objective is to work
out some detailed plan whereby anthropological research in northeastern
Siberia can be carried out by Americans as well as by men from other
free nations. I realize from my conversations in Moscow that this can-
not be achieved unless we accept Soviet Scientists in Alaska, Canada
and Greenland. The Danes have already invited the Russians to work
with them in Greenland next Sumer without any reciprocal agreement re-
garding Siberia. At this Conference, we expect to come up with specific
recommendations that certain individuals from Russia work at certain
places in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland that certain other free nation
scientists work in certain areas of Northeastern Siberia. These recom-
mendations vill then be forwarded to specific institutions in all the
countries represented. I would like to be in a position to say at this
meeting that Soviet researchers will be permitted to work in Alaska if
Americans are permitted to work in northeastern Siberia. I would also
like to propose that the exchanges be made on the Diomede Islands in
Bering Straits in order to avoid the time and expense of traveling most
os the way around the world so as to enter this region from Moscov and
New York. As you probably know both Soviet and American Coast Guard
vessels operate in this region.
Therefore, I am looking specifically for agreement in principle on
American-Soviet exchange of Scientists in the Arctic region. However,
it is clear that approval of the details can only be obtained after the
Conference when, or if, the Asian Academy accepts the principle of
exchange. Of course, I'm not optimistic that this can be done at once
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP61-00391 R000100180030-8
 Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP61-00391 R000100180030-8
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since we will be proposing exchanges in what is a sensitive area, both
for the Americans and for the Russians. But judging from what is hap-
pening in Russia it does not seem impossible in the near future.
I will, of course, let you know at once when the Danes receive a
reply from the Russians. If there is anything more I can do about this
at the present time. please let me know.
Most sincerely
/a/
FR: ad
Enc
Froelich Rainey
Director
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP61-00391 R000100180030-8