Evening star., 1949-12-16
Loyalty Check Policy
For Atom FeIIowships
Upheld by 0'Mahoney
Dy the Assoeiofsd Press

by Ihe ASSoe1oIeo FF6A
An FBI loyalty check require
ment. which has brought a cut
of almost so per cent in the
Atomic Energy Commission SCI
ence study program. was strong
lily defended today by its author.
/ Senator O'Mahoney. Democrat,
of Wyoming, who guided the 10y
atty provision through Congress,
told a reporter:
Despite the annoyance of the
National Research Council, think
Congress was right in erecting
safeguards to prevent the use of
public funds to train Communists
in atomic energy"
Since Senator O'Mahoney heads
the congressional group which
holds the pursestrings on the
Atomic Commission. there ap-
peared little prospect that the
rule will be changed. 1t had
strong support in Congress.
= Check Opposed From Start.
The National Research Council
of the National Academy of Sci
ences, which administers the Acc
fellowship program, has opposed
the loyalty investigation from the
start. The Council Is a non-Gov-
eminent scientific organization.
The group reluctantly agreed to
continue with the fellowship pro-
gram after the loyalty require
ment was added. but only for one
year, and then on a sharply re-
duced basis.
The result, the Acc announced
last night. is that only $50 stu
dents will receive its fellowships
next year. compared with the 421
not getting scientific training un-
der the program. The cost will
be reduced from about $500, 900
to between 100000 and 5000. 900.
Senator O'Mahoney is chairman
of the Senate Appropriation Com
mittee's independent Offices sub
committee. It recommends ap-
preparations for number of Gov
ernment agencies. including the
Atomic Energy Commission.
The Wyoming Senator attached
a requirement to the current ap-
preparation providing that Acc
fellowship money could 60 only
to students who had been found
by the FBI to be loyal to the
United States. This includes STU
dents engaged in non-secret re-
search as well as those with ac-
cess to atomic secrets.
Senator O'Mahoney acted after
the disclosure that Hans Frei-
stadt, a graduate student at the
University of North Carolina and
. fellowship holder, was an ad-
mitted Communist. Questions
also were raised concerning the
loyalty Of other AEC-sponsored
students.
The National Research Council
said 1t considered the FBI check
for non secret work "unwise" and
an infringement on freedom of
education. It at first wanted to
withdraw entirely from any con-
nection with the program. =
Future Course In Doubt.
The councils position sheds
doubt ON the future Of the fellow
ships after the 1901 academic
year.
I'VE are convinced that by this
restriction the value Of the broad
program has been greatly re-
duced." the council said in a
statement.
I'VE have grave doubts whether
the continuance of the Atemic
Energy Commission fellowship
program thus restricted Is in the
national interest"
The atomic commission said the
program is being cut, in accord
ance with the councils demand.
because atomic officials feel the
fellowships must be administered
by some scientific or educational
organization, and not by the Acc.
The fellowships cost the Gov
ernment from $1,000 to $4,000
each, plus allowances for travel
and dependents.
Holland reports describe a new
apparatus for taking three-dimen-
sional movies.