Evening star., 1953-11-25
Military Awaits Effect
OF TaIbott's Security
Custer Reversal
BY the Associated Press

Pentagon officers today Specu-
lated over the effect of Air Sec
retary Talbott's reversal of a re-
serve officers security dismissal
might have on similar cases un-
der study. Mr.. Talbot would say
only that "the decision was mine
alone"
He authorized this direct
quotation for a reporter some
hours after he announced yester-
day that he had cleared 1t. Milo
j. Radulovich, who had been
threatened with discharge be-
cause of alleged Communist
sympathieS of his father and sis
ter.
In recent months the Air Force
alone has been faced with Sc
curity decisions involving about
100 officers. All have arisen from
derogatory information supplied
to security officers, mostly from
within the Air Force itself.
In some of the cases the Off
GERS involved have chosen to ac-
cept discharge under honorable
conditions. Other cases are still
pending.
Other Problems.
The other military services are
known to have had similar secu-
rity problems. The Radulovich
case has been one of the very few
that have come to public atten-
ton.
In this case, as in similar ones,
the person involved is informed
in writing that the military serv-
ice is considering revoking his
commission. He is told the ma
ture of the information lodged
against him and given a choice
Of accepting discharge under
honorable conditions or of fight
ing to stay in the service.
In most cases the individual
has chosen to go along with reg
ulationS and keep the matter
between himself and the service
concerned. There have been
cases where an individual has
requested and gained hearing,
with no word leaking out to the
public.
Received All Rights.
In the case of 1t. Radulovich.
the Air Force gave him all the
rights provided in the rules. He
received written notice of inten-
ton to dismiss him. He asked
for and was given a hearing be-
fore security board convened
by the 10th Air Force at Self
ridge, Mich. After that hearing
he sent a brief to the Air Force
Personnel Council in Washing
ton.
The original security board
found he was a doubtful security
risk-but did not question his
loyalty-and recommended that
his commission be recalled. The
Personnel Council, top ranking
adviser to the Air Force Secre-
tary on such matters, disagreed
with some details but agreed
with the conclusion.
Thus Mr.. Talbot overruled
all OF the agencies and advisers
provided for him by law in clear
ing 1t. Radulovich.
Air Force officers said security
investigations would continue
when warranted by information
received.
Following Regulations.
I'VE will have to judge each
case on its own merits. Just as we
have been doing all along,"- said
one officer who declined to be
named. Of course it NAV
dampen the enthusiasm of some
OF our security investigators, but
after all they are following the
regulations"
Mr.. Talbott's action came a
day after President Eisenhower
IN a speech, appealed for a re-
turn to old American codes that
give every man the right to face
his accusers.
Secretary of State Dulles
asked yesterday to comment on
the Presidents plea, told a news
conference State Department
employees generally have this
right when accused of loyalty OF
security violations.
However, Mr.. Dulles said. care
must be taken to protect conf
dental sources, such as files of
the Federal Bureau of Investi-
cation.
A State Department press Off
Ger said last night that since
May 81, when new security rules
went into effect, no discharged
employees of the department have
faced their accusers. The de-
partment disclosed November 6
that it had discharged 1877 per-
sons since May 81 on loyalty or
security grounds.
The spokesman said State De-
partment rules do not provide
for face-to-face meetings at
regular State Department hear
ings, but an employe may appeal
to a civil service review board
for this right. The spokesman
said no employe thus far has
done this.
Hnhnnc Eornue Pne&oroI