Several appeals did not change the Director's decision. Subsequently the Director stated that as the Institute is under travel restrictions by the U.S. government, and the APS has been unable to remove these restrictions, it would not be appropriate for Jayaraman to participate in the APS panel. On the contrary, the American Physical Society has succeeded in removing such restrictions in specific cases and has continued to work for the removal of all impediments to the free circulation of scientists through both public appeals and by close interaction with U.S. governmental agencies. We feel that the present age compels us to think in global terms and thus the denial of leave to Dr. Jayaraman to participate in the panel discussion is a violation of his academic freedom and has done disservice to the cause of promoting international peace. We urge the Director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and the Government of India, to desist from applying such restrictions in the future.
Physicists have an important role to play as promoters of peace.
Preventing open scientific exchange injures science as an instrument to advance the international scientific enterprise, to develop comity among scientists, to advance our common culture and to contribute to the welfare of nations. The APS encourages the redistribution of the materials included in this newsletter provided that attribution to the source is noted and the materials are not truncated or changed.