Evening star., 1954-04-13


FOLLOWING are the terts OF
letters from Maj. Gen. X. d.
Nichols, general manager of
the Atomic Energy Commits
sion, listing charges against
DR.. J. Robert Oppenheimer.
and of DR.. Oppenheimer's
reply:
Letter to Dr.. Oppenheimer
Dec. ,23, 1853.
DR.. j. r. Oppenheimer,
The Institute for Advanced Study
Princeton, New Jersey
Dear DR.. Oppenheimer:
Section 10 of the Atomic En-
ergy Act Of 1916 places upon the
Atomic Energy Commission the
responsibility for assuring that
individuals are employed by the
commission only when such en-
ployment will not endanger the
common defense and security. In
addition, Executive Order 1045O
of April q. 1858. requires the
suspension of employment of any
individual where there exists in
formation indicating that his
employment may not be clearly
consistent with the interests OF
the national security.
AS a result of additional in
vestigation as to your character,
association and loyalty, and re-
view of your personnel security
file in the light of the require
ments of the Atomic Energy Act
and the requirements of Execu-
tive Order 10450, there has de-
veloped considerable question
whether your continued employ
ment on Atomic Energy Com
mission work will endanger the
common defense and security
and whether such continued en-
ployment is clearly consistent
with the interests of the national
security.
This letter is to advise you OF
the steps which you may take to
assist in the resolution Of this
question.
The substance Of the informa-
ton which raises the question
concerning your eligibility for
employment on Atomic Energy
Commission work is as follows:
It was reported that in 1910
you were listed as a sponsor OF
the Friends of the Chinese Peo-
pie, an organization which was
characterized in 1914 by the
House Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities as a Communist
front organization. 1t was fur
ther reported that in 1910 your
name was included on letter.
head of the American Committee
for Democracy and Intellectual
Freedom as a member of its Ma
tional Executive Committee.
g.. Listed as Communist Front.
The American Committee for
Democracy and Intellectual Free
dom was characterized in 1912
by the House Committee on Un-
American Activities as a Com
munist-front which defended
Communist teachers. and in 194S
It was characterized as subver-
sive and un-American by a spe-
cial subcommittee of the House
Committee on Appropriations.
It was further reported that
in 1888 you were a member OF the
Western Council of the Consum-
ers Union. The Consumers Union
was cited in 1914 by the House
Committee, on Un-American Ac-
tivities as a Communist-front
headed by the Communist Arthur
Kallet. It was further reported
that you stated in 1943 that you
were not a Communist. but had
probably belonged to every Com
munist-front organization on the
West Coast and had signed many
petitions in which Communists
were interested.
It was reported that in 1943
and previously you were inti-
mately associated with DR.. Jean
Tatlock, a member of the Com
munist party in San Francisco,
and that DR.. Tatlock was par
TALLY responsible for your aSso-
citation with Communist = front
groups.
It was reported that your wife.
Katherine Puening Oppenheimer,
was formerly the wife of Joseph
ballet, a member Of the Commu-
mist Party, who was killed in
Spain in 1887 fighting for the
Spanish Republican Army. 1t was
further reported that during the
period of her association with
Joseph ballet, your wife became
a member of the Communist
Party.
Party Listed as Foe of U. S.
The Communist Party has been
designated by the Attorney Gen.
eral as a subversive organization
which seeks to alter the form Of
Government of the United States
by unconstitutional means. with
in the purview of Executive Order
1886 and Executive Order 10450.
It was reported that your
brother Frank Friedman Open
heimer became a member Of the
Communist party in 1885 and
has served as party organizer
and as educational director Of
the Professional Section of the
Communist Party in Los Angeles
County.
It was further reported that
your brothers wife, Jackie Op-
penheimer, was a member OF the
Communist party in 1898; and
that in August, 1914, Jackie OPP
penheimer assisted in the organ
ization Of the East Bay branch
Of the California Labor School,
It was further reported that in
1945 Frank and Jackie Open
heimer were invited to an infor-
NAL reception at the Russian