Evening star., 1948-07-16

COHtHLtSSLUH StuLcHSHt gIDtHg
clearance to DR.. EdUdrd U. Con-
don for continued Dork in the
atomic energy program:
! The question before the commits
sion is the security clearance Of
DR.. Edward U. Condor. director of
The National Bureau of Standards.
In view of Dr. Condon's past as
sociation with the atomic energy
project, this question arises under
the provisions of the Atomic En-
ergy Act for reinvestigations of per-
sons who were permitted access to
restricted data by the Manhattan
district. The question presented is
whether DR.. Condon's clearance
should be continued to permit him
to have access to the restricted data
pertinent to his duties as director
of the Bureau of Standards and
related activities.
After examining the extensive
files in this case the commission
has no question whatever concern
ing DR.. Condon's loyalty to the
United States. What we have for
consideration, therefore, is whether
the continued clearance of this dis
tinguished American scientist, whose
loyalty is unquestionable, would
constitute security hazard to the
atomic energy program. Such a
decision calls for common-sense
evaluation of the factors involved.
Had Access to Top Secrets.
In considering the case the COM
mission has taken note of the prior
association of DR.. Condor with the
atomic energy program. during
which he was given access to in-
! formation of a high degree OF Sc
crecy:
l. In 1910 DR.. Condor was ap-
pointed a member Of the eight-man
uranium subcommittee of the ura-
MUM section, National Defense Re-
search Committee, which carried
out the first overall survey Of
problems related to developing nu-
clear energy from atomic flssior
for the defense program.
2. In 1941 and 1912 DR.. Condor
served as associate director OF re-
search of the Westinghouse Corp,
during the period when Westing-
house took a prominent part In the
production of the first substantial
quantities of pure uranium metal.
3. Also in 1912, DR.. Condor was
appointed a consultant to the ST.
Executive Committee OF the Office
of Scientific Research and Develop
ment. This committee was charged
with the responsibility for review
ing the basic program OF the entire
uranium project.
4. For a short period in 1943 DR..
Condor served as associate direc-
tor of the Los Alamos Laboratory,
at that time in the early stages of
|! its organization as the unit of the
Manhattan Project which would
| finally turn out atomic bombs.
While at Los Alamos he prepared
document known as the Los
Alamos Primer which was used
as an introduction to the subject
of the explosive use of fashionable
material, to introduce to scientific
ana technical personnel coming to
the laboratory the fundamental
ideas under investigation.
Named Bureau Head in 1945.
I S. In 1944-45, DR.. Condor worked
at the radiation laboratory Of the
University of California at Berkeley,
which was under contract with the
Manhattan District.
6. In November, 1945. DR.. Condor,
having been appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate,
took Office in the position which
he now occupies as director of the
National Bureau of Standards.
7. In December, 1945, DR.. Condor
was designated and thereafter
served as scientific advisor to the
Senate's Special Committee on
Atomic Energy.
s. In 1916 DR.. Condor was named
by the President as a member of the
Evaluat ton Commission for Opera
tions Crossroads, and in this capac-
ity attended the Bikini tests.
During the war the Bureau Of
Standards conducted for the atomic
energy program of the Manhattan
District certain work of types which
the bureau was particularly suited
to perform. The bureau has con-
tinued to perform for the Atomic
Energy Commission similar work
which can be best carried out by the
bureau.
Thus in his position as director
of the Bureau of Standards, and in