85 



Frankly, many of the problems reflected in the more than 30 bills 

 pending before the committee are extremely complex ones; they will 

 be difficult to cope with, and might take decades to resolve — even if 

 everyone agreed to one solution. In the case of some of these mam- 

 mals — such as whales and polar bears and others — the only ultimate 

 solution lies in international agreements, if rare and endangered spe- 

 cies are to be protected and preserved. 



But the fact that some of these problems are difficult and that others 

 are even discouraging is no excuse for failing to make some honest effort 

 to correct an intolerable situation. Man has already wasted too much 

 time, and he has squandered too much of his heritage ; his brutality and 

 stupidity and greed have left a sorry record, and resulted in the total 

 elimination of many species. 



These hearings may be a small step, but they at least represent an 

 honest effort to start giving, instead of taking, by developing a more 

 intelligent and humane management of our world's li\dng resources. 



I do not envy the members of this subcommittee the formidable task 

 they face in opening these hearings. But I do know that, if progress 

 is to be made in protecting and conserving the world's ocean mammals, 

 the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife is the appropriate com- 

 mittee to lead the way in formulating a national policy that is sensible 

 and practical. 



Thank you very much, Mr. Dingell. 



Mr. Dingell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Our next witness is Miss Gretchen Wyler, World Federation for the 

 Protection of Animals. 



STATEMENT OF MISS GRETCHEN WYLER, WORLD FEDERATION 

 FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS 



Miss Gretchen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Members of the committee, Mr. Chairman, I would first like to read 

 a statement from Ashley Montagu who, of course, is a world famed 

 anthropologist, formerly regents professor of anthropology, Univer- 

 sity of California, formerly head of professors of anthropology. Rut- 

 gers University. 



He says, and I quote : 



To Whom It May Ooncem : 



May I add my voice in support of the Harris-Prj'or Bill. I am an anthropolo^st 

 whose main interest has been the study of human nature, its origin, evolution, 

 and present status. This has entailed the study of most living creatures. And 

 from that stiidy I know that man is a part, an interconnected part, of the whole 

 of animated nature ; that he is not superior to it, and that he was not created to 

 preside over the lives of other creatures, but to live in harmony and under- 

 standing with all of them. 



Any person who sets himself ahove any other creature, by that act diminishes 

 his humanity, and becomes the kind of creature who thoughtlessly and vs-ithout 

 feeling can take not only the life of another animal, but also that of another 

 human being. 



The step is a very small one. Anyone capable of cruelty to animals is capable 

 of cruelty to human beings. Brutality is brutality, and the more brutal when it 

 is exhibited against defenseless animals than it is when exhibited against human 

 beings who can, at least, defend themselves. 



To permit the senseless slaughter of animals is to encourage the dehumaniza- 

 tion of man, to acquiesce in the growing callousness which permits one group 

 of men to invest another group of men, and thus every man, with the qualities 

 of an "animal," and without feeling to "waste" them. 



