Letter from Thomas Gold to Sir John Kendrew, Director General, European Molecular Bilogy Laboratory, Postfach 10.2209, 6900 Heidelberg, Germany Thanks him for his letter, and the reassuringly "obviously right " comment. Gold is enclosing the long paper, now published by the new British "Journal of Petroleum Geology " Vol I, No. 3 (Jan 79) Gold will write to Leslie Orgel about the question of micro-organisms converting to abiogenic methane into (biogenic) oil. But if Kendrew has anyone who would concern himself with this problem, Gold would be happy to correspond with him, or, later, to visit. Gold is indeed trying to talk to the Chinese about the earthquake-related aspects. By ignoring the "scientific method" but remembering the detailed phenomena recorded since ancient times, they have moved into the forefront of the subject. It does not speak too well for the seismological fraternity of the West. 26 January 1979