Three Typed Letters Signed from Col. Charles A. Lindbergh to the English science journalist Arthur G. Bourne, concerning whaling and marine conservation, including a description of a recent trip to Lima, Peru, when he went out on a whaling ship.

Lindbergh's three letters are each 1p., 8vo. They are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; the first letter has a short closed tear at the head. Lindbergh begins the first letter by commending an 'article on whales' by Bourne. 'When we talked in London during the meetings of the International Whaling Commission, you mentioned sending me some papers you had written in regard to conservation planning. I would like to see these as the subject is much in the foreground at the moment.' He has 'just returned from three weeks in Peru, with Major Grimwood, largely spent in connection with prospective National parks. We went out on one of the whaling ships for two days. (Two fin and two sperm whales were caught.) Then visited the head of the company in Lima, in an attempt to persuade him to prohibit the further killing of blue and hump-back whales. (The catching ship we sailed on had killed, during the first seven months of 1966, the following: 304 sperm; 80 fin; 36 blue; and 13 hump-back. Three of these catchers operate regularly from the station - in northern Peru.) | We learned that the whaling company is half owned in the United States. I expect to follow this up by letter and probably personal contact.' He has spoken to the President of Peru and members of his cabinet 'about conservation needs in general': 'there seemed to be much interest in the subject on the part of the government. But how much action will follow?' In the second letter he expresses an interest in Bourne's attempt to 'obtain support for a conservation policy relating to marine environment'. Lindbergh's wife has read Bourne's article on whales in 'Animals', 'and was very much impressed by it. You couldn't have any higher praise! She thought the writing excellent.' He has sent the article 'to De Witt Wallace, along with a personal letter emphasizing how valuable and constructive an article on whales would be at this time. But don't count on anything here. Wallace is a good and long-time friend, but the last contact I had with him about whales had no results. He wasn't much interested. (A year or so ago.) (Wallace - editor of Reader's Digest.)' He declines the request that he write an article for 'Animals': 'I found it necessary to discontinue writing magazine articles more than ten years ago. The only exception I have made is the Reader's Digest article I sent you, relating to conservation. I have been working for more than thirteen years now on the manuscript for another book, and it is still years from completion. Whatever manuscript-writing time I have, I must put on that.' In the last letter (the envelope of which is present) he writes that he is enclosing 'an article my wife has just published, in regard to East African wild life and conservation. I think it is one of her best pieces of writing.' A senior editor at Reader's Digest has informed Lindbergh that they are 'planning an article on the whale crisis', and that they will be contacting Bourne about this. 'Our re-organization of the U.S. WWF is well under way, and I am much encouraged, although I fully realize that a great deal remains to be done.' Also present are carbons of two letters from Bourne to Lindbergh, 21 May 1967 and 17 June 1969. Both are 1p., 8vo. In the first he discusses the 'Reader's Digest article', which has 'just been reivsed for the sixth or seventh time, obviously we cannot hope to have it published before the IWC meeting in June. One of my "field pieces" has opened fire and brought a good response; this was the article I mentioned, that was to go in the Weekend Scotsman'. In the last letter he writes that 'We have gone ahead as far as ORCA is concerned, [...] We are now negotiating for a small boat and a building for a research unit at one of our smaller fishing ports. I am trying to raise the funds for this. [...] By the way, we objected over the radio and in the Press about the Pentagon's plan to dump nerve gas in the sea'.