Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-18
Science Federation
Attacks Suspension
Of Dr.. 0ppenheilne'Ir'
by the Associated Prsss.

BY the Associated Press
The Federation Of American
Scientists last night expressed
shock at the barring Of DR..
j. Robert Oppenheimer from
atomic secrets and said his case
makes essential" q speedy re-
view Of the entire security pro-
gram. ,r
The science group, in a state
ment issued by DR.. M. Stanley
Livingston, chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee, said the Gov
eminent action "has relegated to
official ostracisrn a distinguished
scientist and citizen. long a con-
fidentia1 adviser in our innermoSt
councils of Government"
1.-THE charge that his contin-
ued public service threatens the
security of the United States
has shocked the Nation and the
scientific community IN partic-
ular," the national organization
declared. It Identifies itself as
an organization of scientists
representing all fields Of science
"who are concerned with the
interaction of science and So
ciety." Il
DR.. Oppenheimer, who pio-
neered in the development of
the first atomic bomb, was de-
MED further access to official
secrets last December by presi-
Dental order. This was after
the Atomic Energy Commission
said it had received information
that he was security risk.
Denied by Oppenheimer.
DR.. Oppenheimer denied this.
and a special three-man panel
headed by former Army Secre-
tary Gray is now weighing the
case in secret sessions.
Vice President Nixon has ex-
pressed the opinion that DR..
Oppenheimer "is a loyal Amer
lean" and should not be barred
from government work if he is
not a security risk.
These remarks about the
atomic scientist previously had
been attributed to a high admin
istration official who talked to
newsmen with the stipulation
that his name not be used.
Last night, James Reston,
Washington correspondent of the
New York Times, identified the
official as Mr.. Nixon.
Mr.. Nixon has had contact
with the Oppenheimer case since
1948, when the physicist was
questioned by the House I'm
American Activities Committee.
Mr.. Nixon was formerly a COM
mittee member.
Mr.. Nixon said that "if the
man is not a security risk. if he
is not subject to blackmail, he
should work for the government"
The Vice President, who has
seen the full file on DR.. Open
heimer, said:
"Dr. Oppenheimer, at least on
the evidence have seen in my
opinion is a loyal American. On
the other hand the information
in his file is voluminous and
makes a 'prima facie' case of
security risk"
Scientists Position.
The scientists statement last
night said there is little new"
in the charges against DR.. Op-
penheimer pending in the three
man panel, land the old facts
have been strengthened in their
aging"
But the group went beyond
the point of the specific accu-
sations to question the whole
method of the security-risk proc
eSs. It said the Oppenheimer
case points up a problem as to
whether the "unseating" of such
a prominent figure in itself hurts
the Nation more than letting
him still have access to secrets
pending a final decision.
The scientists also voiced fear
that the method in this case
would "ieopardize" the Govern
ment's ability to get advice from
the scientific profession.
This was a reference to DR..
Oppenheimer's original objec-
ton to the building of a hydro
gen bomb. Suggestions have
been raised that there was de
liberate" delay before a go-ahead
was ordered on the H-bomb. DR..
Oppenheimer says he at first
opposed H-bomb construction
for technical reasons, but that
he willingly went to work on it
when President Truman ordered
the project pushed in 1850.
May Stifle Consultants.
The scientists federation found
it especially disturbing to find
that attitudes and opinions on
technical and policy matters ex-
pressed by Oppenheimer in the
normal course of official advi-
sorry duties are cited as bases for
questioning his veracity, con-
duct, and loyalty.
This kind of attack threatens
to Stifles at its source the ex-
preston of independent views by
Government personnel, advisers
and conSultants."
They said issues raised in the
case demand IAN early resolution