Nature Vol. 283 7 February 1980 513 Andrei Sakharov even if limiting activities in these channels, what such discussions should aim. US cuts back on was supported by Academy President Dr Dr Paul J Flory, for example, Emeritus Philip Handler, who will be leading the US Professor of Chemistry at Stanford official exchanges delegation to the scientific forum in University and a member of the US Hamburg later this month to discuss the delegation, suggested that the scientific with USSR progress of the Helsinki accords of 1975. community should "reshape its criteria for THE US scientific community has been But he emphasised the Academy's position participation" and lay down a set of almost unanimous in condemning recent that the main responsibility lay on the minimum conditions for future inter­ moves by the government of the USSR, in shoulders of individual scientists. national collaboration. the occupation of Afghanistan and the Uncertainty over how tough the These might include the condition that internal exile of physicist Andrei administration should be is reflected in the "negotiations should be in the hands of Sakharov. debate over what type of strategy the US scientists, not governments", and that But while many support the legitimacy delegation should pursue at the Hamburg participants be selected "without regard of individual protest, there remains science forum. for their political conformity, race or uncertainty over how far official reaction Few currently support a complete ethnic background''. should undermine the network of bilateral boycott of the meeting. And there seems Others have suggested more modest exchange agreements which have, in recent general agreement that human righs con­ goals. In particular Dr John T Edsall of years, begun to produce mutual benefits. siderations are central to international Harvard University, chairman of the On the one hand, Congressman George scientific communication and exchange. American Association for the Brown, last week introduced a bill calling But given agreement that the forum Advancement of Sciences' Committee on for a one-year moratorium on US-Soviet should discuss, in Dr Press's words, ''the Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, has exchange except those essential to national context within which scientific cooperation suggested that the forum should establish a needs or a matter of extraordinary takes place, not simply those scientific working group to collect and review circumstance of individual conscience. subjects which are amply discussed in many reports about obstacles to international The Carter administration, however, other settings", opinions are divided on scientific cooperation. David Dickson while keen to make clear to the Soviet government that it is not 'business as usual' for scientific exchanges, is also concerned to maintain what it can of the existing Soviet Union responds to western reaction framework for scientific cooperation. WITHIN a few minutes of the news of out resolutely against overenthusiastic Thus all high-level meetings between Sakharov's exile reaching the West, the efforts to link US willingness to sign scientists and scientific administrators Royal Society sent a cautious telegram to SALT -2 with human rights in the USSR. from the two sides are being deferred. the Soviet Academy of Sciences, deploring Nevertheless, the statement contained Three such meetings have already been the action and asking for the Academy's no indications that moves would be made postponed since the occupation of comment. Six days later, the Academy to expel Sakharov from the Academy. Afghanistan, and all current exchange made its opinion known in a formal While feelings of solidarity may so far have arrangements are undergoing close review. statement by the Presidium. prevented Sakharov's fellow­ But the administration is at present The statement condemned the activities Academicians from expelling him from keeping the door open for low-level of Academician Sakharov as being directed their ranks, there is little doubt that contacts between scientists which it "against the interests of our country and scientists of dissident outlook and lesser considers to have a purely scientific or the Soviet people, actions that help to build prestige now feel themselves under humanitarian purpose. For example, a up international tension and bring into increasing threat. Andrei Tverdokhlebov, scientific delegation from the USSR disrepute the exalted title of Soviet the young physicist, who had formerly studying the biological control of pests has scientist". Ironically, the Presidium's worked closely with Sakharov in the been allowed in - but a delegation coming statement accuses Sakharov of human rights movement was expelled to from the USSR to discuss science policy has "undermining" precisely those ideals of the West just in time to testify before last not, since it was lead by a deputy minister. peace, arms limitation and detente that week's congressional hearing in The administration's determination to underlie his whole involvement with preparation for the Hamburg scientific keep open channels of communication, human rights. Last year, indeed, he spoke forum. And a number of Jewish refusniks, notably Naum Meiman the mathematician and Aleksandr Lerner the cybernetician, have expressed fears for their own liberty. cccr Meanwhile, the Soviet authorities are attempting to counter western concern by denying that Sakharov has been, in any sense, exiled. "Administrative banishment", said one Tass statement "is neither 'arrest' nor 'exile'." Gor'kii, said comentator Yaroslav Khabarov on the foreign service of Moscow radio, "is one of the most beautiful towns in Russia, as well as a major industrial, cultural, and scientific centre with its own university". By simply stripping Sakharov of his awards and titles, and "moving him outside the city of Moscow", Khabarov explained, Sakharov has been given ''the opportunity to continue to work in keeping with his profession". Vera Rich ©1980Macmillan Journals Ltd .