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^[[recd J N W SP A-1]]
[[preprinted]] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20560 [[/preprinted]]

3 November 1966  ^[[cy furnished: Mr. Hurlbut, Drs. Fosberg, Talbot - 8 Nov]]

Dr. H. K. Buechner
Office of Ecology
U. S. Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Hal,

I have just returned from a five day trip along the DMZ with the medical crew from Japan.  We collected ^[[snails in]] about 60% of the DMZ region. They plan one more trip to complete the coverage next week. We plan to write a small paper for the Korean Journal of Zoology about the snails.  We hope to do sampling of comparative numbers before we publish.  All this is a study of snails in relation to disease.

The Korean scientist did not get to the field today as planned.  Before I left for the field I found that because of President Johnson's trip that the U. N. Command and the Eighth army were not going to give support.  This I duely reported to Dr. Kang.  Apparently he did not believe me so he sent Dr. Won out to see Commander Pace and got the same answer I had reported.  Also the ROK army in charge of the Punchbowl area told them that they could not offer support at this time because of infiltrators.  They went right ahead with planning to go, then yesterday, the day before time to leave here, the ROK commander told them pointblank not to come or to expect to work in the Punchbowl.  So no [[strikethrough]] t [[/strikethrough]] trip is planned this week--perhaps next week or shortly thereafter.

In conversation with the Americans from Japan, I found out the Japan professors act just like these in Korea.  As he stated the case in Japan something like this and about these same words, "they get so blown up with their importance that they are unable to be rational and they continue to do stupid things simply because they will not listen to reason or take no for an answer".  You cannot imagine how frustrating day to day working with this sort of attitude can be.  I hope you do not think that there is any friction between me and the Korean scientist because of the things I am writing, but I say these things to show you just how things are getting along and how things are apparently done here.  The facts are that on a personal basis, we could not get along much better.

About Dr. Kim's visit.  I discussed it with Dr. Kang.  He seems in agreement with his visit.  He proposed sometimes about Christmas or shortly thereafter would be the best time here.  For my part, any time will be satisfactory.  Perhaps Dr. Kim can get something out of the scientist on just what they plan to do on their individual project.

Apparently you had not received my letter about the filming of the DMZ project when you wrote you letters of 25 October so I will not comment more at this time except for the fact that I will be glad to try to get more film footage if you and NBC wish.

So much for now, I must hurry over to see Commander Pace before ^[[9:00.  Ed.]]