Sent from J.D. Whittaker
27 Mar 1958
Description:

'Dear Reed,

I must apologise for the delay in writing to Miss Simmons on the monkey problem. We have been trying to analyse imports over the last six months, and this has taken longer than was anticipated. We have also had to consult Dr. Lane-Petter, who you will remember visited India on our behalf in 1955.

Our comments on Signal 322 of 28th February are as follows:

We appreciate that there is a body of public opinion in India against the export of monkeys, but we believe that the benefits to be gained from medical research work are sufficient justification for seeking to continue the exportation of essential supplies of monkeys for such projects as the production of poliomyelitis vaccines. We feel certain that supplies of monkeys will be adversely affected by the new regulations, but of course we cannot as yet provide proof. We have heard that one manufacturer is already having difficulty in getting the numbers of monkeys required and that the cost will be considerably greater.

2. It is impossible from retrospective analysis to give actual figures, but information available on importations over the last six months suggests that of all the monkeys imported -

(a) 15% were under 4 lbs

(b) 75% were between 4 and 6 lbs

(c) 10% were over 6 lbs.

3. As stated above we have as yet no concrete evidence but believe that maintenance of the 6 lb rule will adversely affect supplies.

4. We think that the figures given above bear out our contention that monkeys below 6 lbs in weight are useful for medical research purposes. We still do not accept the claim of the Indian Government that monkeys under 6 lbs are useless for medical research purposes (see Signal 313 of 25th February). All of the monkeys referred to above were used for medical research purposes.

5. We believe that the existing standard cage which has been in use since Dr. Lane-Petter's visit to India has proved perfectly satisfactory for its purpose, and we know of no instances of monkeys in transit to the United Kingdom suffering any harm due to the cages being too small.

With regard to the reference to the R.S.P.C.A., we have not ourselves been in touch with them on this matter recently. but you may wish to know that at a Conference called by Council in July-August 1955, the Society's Chief Veterinary Officer pointed out that unnecessarily large cages (i.e. in relation to the number of occupants) were actually less humane than smaller cages. The present standard cage was discussed and agreed at the Conference in 1955, but at the Society's request we did not mention their participation in the Report of the Proceedings, and it may be better not to refer to it in any approach to them.

For what it is worth, I may add that the late scientific Attaché at the Indian Government High Commissioners Office in London (Colonel Pasricha [sic]) was present at London Airport on more than one occasion to see plane loads of monkeys arriving from India, and expressed himself as very well satisfied with the conditions in which the monkeys had travelled.

I hope that the foregoing gives you sufficient information for your purpose, but if there is any further information required please let me know.'