Cited by G.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.

...

August 18, 1941 - Colonel James S. Simmons, M.C., recommends further study in memorandum to Mr. H.H. Bundy, Special Assistant to the Secretary of War.

August 20, 1941 - Mr. Bundy called a meeting of the National Research Council Committee: Dr. Ross G. Harrison, Chairman, National Research Council, Dr. A.N. Richards, Chairman, Committee on Medical Research, OSDR, Dr. Lewis H. Weed, Chairman, Division of Medical Sciences, NRC, Colonel J.S. Simmons, Office of the Surgeon General, Lt. Colonel Jacobs, War Department General Staff, and Lt. Colonel M.E. Barker, Chief, Technical Division, CWS. This Committee advised the War Department to set up two committees: One committee for offense to be selected by the National Defense Research Committee, and one committee for defense to be requested by the Surgeon General from the National Research Council. The Central Scientific Committee of the Office of Emergency Management to be consulted for membership in each.' (f. 8)

 

'Early Steps Taken by the U.S. Government in Relation to B.W.7

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.

...

In 1937 Lt. Colonel (now Brig. General) James B. Simmons, Surgeon General's Office, pointed out the possibility that the Japanese might drop swarms of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with yellow fever virus on our territory in order to cause an epidemic. When his attention was called later to the attempt of the Japanese to obtain yellow fever virus from the Rockefeller Institute, he brought the matter to the attention of the War Department and this, according to General Simmons, created immediate interest in the whole subject of biological warfare.' (f. 13)