Commonwealth Relations Office to U.K. High Commissioner (India), 30th April, 1955 (DO 35/8639).- External URL
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Sent From (Definite): Commonwealth Relations OfficeSent To (Definite): Malcolm John MacDonald
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Sent fromCommonwealth Relations Office
Description:'CYPHER
No. 911 SECRET
RHESUS MONKEYS
Your telegram No. 458.
Monkeys with which my telegram No. 863 dealt were all needed for purely civilian medical research. Ministry of Supply has, however, responsibility for conducting research which has as its object medical protection for both civilian and military personnel against special hazards of war. Monkeys referred to in my telegram No. 767 are needed in latter context and in particular for experiments into disease which may be intentionally transmitted by an enemy. None of these monkeys will be needed for research into any offensive techniques of warfare. On the contrary all experiments on these, as on all living animals in the United Kingdom, are regulated by Home Office under Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, and tightly controlled by licensing and inspection. Only experiments allowed are those "performed with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge, or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering".
2. Although these monkeys are, therefore, for genuine medical research we should prefer the defence context to be understood. Please, therefore, speak to Indian authorities at appropriate level on lines of preceding paragraph and seek their concurrence to export.
...'
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Sent toMalcolm John MacDonald
Description:'CYPHER
No. 911 SECRET
RHESUS MONKEYS
Your telegram No. 458.
Monkeys with which my telegram No. 863 dealt were all needed for purely civilian medical research. Ministry of Supply has, however, responsibility for conducting research which has as its object medical protection for both civilian and military personnel against special hazards of war. Monkeys referred to in my telegram No. 767 are needed in latter context and in particular for experiments into disease which may be intentionally transmitted by an enemy. None of these monkeys will be needed for research into any offensive techniques of warfare. On the contrary all experiments on these, as on all living animals in the United Kingdom, are regulated by Home Office under Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, and tightly controlled by licensing and inspection. Only experiments allowed are those "performed with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge, or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering".
2. Although these monkeys are, therefore, for genuine medical research we should prefer the defence context to be understood. Please, therefore, speak to Indian authorities at appropriate level on lines of preceding paragraph and seek their concurrence to export.
...'
