[Memo on Regime Exploiting American Professor’s Remarks]

Air Pouch OFFICIAL USI ONLY
PRIonRTY (Security Classifcatio#*-~
FOREIGN SERVICE D ESPAT H:..
FROM: Amlegation BUDAPE.ST..'i' L.
TO: THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON.. ACTION t. T.
Use Only REC'D F OTHER
/0,,,f(4,o O,,. *Sc2,.
SUBJECT: Regime Exploiting American Professor's Remarks - '9 i 7~' 3
Following a press conference held on Sept. 22 three Budapest dailies
have given considerable play to the remarks of Dr. S.B. SABIN, the American
medical researcher responsible for oral polio vaccine, who visited Hungarian
research establishments and talked to Hung~rian doctors during a five day visit
terminating Sept. 27. The Nepszabadsay for Sept. 25 pointed out that test
programs in Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union first proved the efficacy
of Sabin's vaccine. Sabin stated that he had been in close contact with
Soviet colleagues since 1957, and that presently the Soviet Union ranks first
among the users of his vaccine. He complimented the Hungarian Government on o Ii,
their use of the vaccine produced in Hungary. Sabin concluded that the pro- O j
gram was thoroughly organized and the results so effective that not a single j K:Hngrian child has contracted polio. According to the press accounts Sabin
criticized United States health authorities for their tardiness in adopting hi~f K
vaccine, and explained this was in part due to a previous 13 million dollar >
investment in live vaccines by a private pharmaceutical firm. Testing of thisW
latter type he explained led to the deaths of several children in West Berlin. -
The Sept. 26 Hetfoi Hirek quotes Sabin asadvocating a large joint
United States-Soviet Union progra to produce enough vaccine to eliminate
polio in the underdeveloped countries. It this effort he said he could
count on the support of his friends in the Soviet Union. _
Comment: Although the Legation's,in no pesition to judge the
scientific merits of Sabin's apparent dissatisfaction with tho reception
and perhaps belated introduction of his vaccine in the Unitd States it is.
unfortunate that The has suppliod the local prs e wthta~e - s which mr be j
reported aind w' to fit regime propagmi. Lins. Cormi'a; from aperson a~~
his scin bi *c stat such utterances no doubt rise more questions than the
predicta e statementsof known American fellow travelers such as Paul ROEESO3 ' -
P,- the Charge d'ffaires ad erim

-,.econ Secretary of Lega.'n, -
ACTION 'ATION
ASSIGNED TO- ".TAKEN '
NAME OF OFFICER DATE OF DIRECTIONS
& OFFICE SYMBOL ACTION TO RM/R
A ION COPY - DEPARTMENT OF STATE n.
The actin no 'ce must return thts permanent record copy to RM/R files with an endorsement of action taken.