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MENORANDUM FOR THE RLOORD

DATE: 3 Augusd

SUBJECT: Report or Contacts in London, 27-30 July

One of the first persons contacted upon our arrival in London was who has written An the field of ESP. is a respected member of the British Psychical Society and a person with whom I have met.previously. Our discussions centered principally around the progress of psychic research and ite place in present day eociety. The British have not found many good psychics or reliable sources of psychic phenomena. This is changing a bit, but, that some of the best work in the future will come out of Russia. theory, and this has been ascribed to by athers, and possibly myself, that it takes a certain etress on any society to produre people with these characteristics, at least for them to be identified and come forward without fear of retribution and criticism (embarrassment). When society is very comfortable, the "fringe" people, as the psychic may be identified, tends not to become very visible. feeling is that there is enough dissent in Russia that these people are now being more and more identified--some end up in asylums but others are getting εupport from part of the society, even to tho extent that the government permits formal and informal meetings of international psychic groups (re: the 17 July meeting this year). It is important to realize that is not eaying these are good scientists in Russia, but simply that there's enough evidence coming out of that society that would indicate worthwhileness in wetching it. hopes to go to tha peeting: and suggested that it may be an interesting atmosphere.

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A visit to the British Psychical Socicty, which was arranged by, was very pleasant and friendly. I had been looking for 1 a former colleague who has undertaken a variety of efforts in the ESP in England. is obviously persona non grata because fhas gotten into 1 The ESP people seem to be very

history intimately, they told me in considerable detail the last five yeare of life. They did not give me any address at which I could contact Only 1 had said he was probably northeast of London.suggested I call' ho has kept in touch with /had already left for a trip tochat morning.

At the society we had discussions with the vice president who is an historian in the ESP area and knows the field in detail.falso encouraged attendance at the onference.was particularly emphatic about giving a significant paper own expense). The topic does not know, but feels it is important that be heard. Evidently the conference has become a focus for these people as a chance to get as many acvocates together as possible.

I became better acquainted with sources of information such as the Psychic News which covers the more dramatic areas of ESP and psychic research or the occult.

. This day and a half spent talking with members of the British psychic comnunity will be helpful e

hhether or not it would be worth going to Tis still
questionable. I can understand their enthusiasm for having most of the
interested people attend. At the eame time the papers still terd to be
predoinantly from the American part of the Society. 1

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3 ugust 1972