Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-14
BY BILL BECKER
Associated Press star Writer


PASADENA. Calf, Aug. Is
The wartime slogan among
scientists. IF it's tricky. call
Zwicky," has gone by the boards
security boards, to be precise
The man who pioneered the
first attempt to shoot earth satel-
lites into space finds himself to-
day in the odd position Of an Of
fetal outcast in the field which
brought him fame.
DR.. Fritz zwicky. top physicist,
astronomer and inventor, Is
barred by the Department of De-
Tense even from the Aerojet-
General Corp. plant at nearby
Azusa, which his advanced ideas
helped to build. 1t is because.
he says, he refuses to become a
"second-claSs citizen" of the
United States. He prefers to re-
main a citizen Of Switzerland.
Here 80 Years
DR.. Zwicky is man who first
came to California Institute of
Technology on q Rockefeller fel:
lowship sc years ago. who was
a top man in wartime science de-
velopment, who in 1916 tried to
fire man-made moons into the
air at White Sands. N. Mex, and
who three years later received
from President Truman the civil
ian Medal of Freedom in recogni-
ton of his achievements.
What has happened to change
his status?
Specifically, a new restriction
denying contact with classified
projects to aliens who have not
applied for naturalization.
A technicality. rather than a
question of loyalty. apparently
is involved. DR.. zwicky, 81, says
he has been a confirmed anti
Communist since he lived next
door to Lenin in Zurich. "A dour,
sour man." recalls DR.. Zwicky,
who is big and jovial.
But Defense chieftains lifted
his clearance recently under
paragraph 2-203 OF the Armed
Forces Industrial Security regu-
iations which states:
IAN immigrant alien to be
eligible for a personnel security
clearance shall have formally
declared his intent to become a
United States citizen. Security
cleafances that have been pre-
viously granted to immigrant
aliens which fail to meet this
requirement will be admins
tratively terminated by the mill
tary department concerned"
Early in World War II DR.
Zwicky Joined a gronp of sci
ehtists to found Aerojet and be-
come the company's research d.
rector. Under his guidance Aero
Jet developed JATO (jet-assisted
takeoff) for rocket blasting
heavy-laden bombers into the
air. Many other hush hush
rocket developments have been
made there under his super
vision.
While he no longer can enter
the plant, he still goes to his
office at Aerojet. His duties al
technical adviser have beer
chopped by the restriction. but
project directors continue tc
consult with him about limo.
vations.
"Aerojet can run without me,
Mr.. Zwicky comedies. They're
not using my inventions alone"
Why doesn't he become q
United States citizen? Mostly
because he doesn't stay put. he
indicated in an interview.
"A United States naturalizec
citizen cannot stay out Of the
country more than two years
and is not free to come and &C
as he pleases." he says. II never
know for how long my work will
take me out Of the country.
ITO become naturaliZed @
foreigner has to remain in the
country six years. Since coming
to Caltech I have been out oil
the country every year or Sec
ond year. I don't have time tc
stick around in one place six
years; such restrictions cramr
my style. can make a much
better contribution moving
around"
DR.. Zwicky emphasized hi
would apply for American citi-
zenship tomorrow IF you die
not have two classes Of citizens.
IF I am more free as a Swiss.
he added. II stay Swiss"
DR.. Zwicky is amused at the
ironic twist of events.
Only 10 years ago he was thu
late Gen. H. H. tHap) Arnold!
personal choice for the Air Force
scientific board that picked TIT
brains Of Wernher Won Braun anc
other top German rocket scien'
lists. On the basis Of his reports
they were brought to the United
States and given important
rocket assignments. Now, man!
Of them having become citizens
they are allowed access to prof.