Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-26
Nuns the Word

Your editorial, NUNS the
Word" conveys the impress
sion that we Americans are
the big takers in the world
and that the USSR is oper-
ating with complete and
utter secrecy" This, I'm
afraid. is not really the case.
It's rather that we've been SO
busy talking that we haven't
taken time to listen. Anyone
who has listened to the Short
wave broadcasts from Radio
Moscow (there aren't many
or those who subscribe to
Soviet magazines (again, not
many could tell you that in
many respects we are out
talked. outargued and out
reasoned in the rest of the
world.
II has been revealed that
Soviet magazines which have
a wide circulation and which
contained articles with con-
siderable detail on their
Sputnik plans and progress
were In this country at least
three months before Sputnik
Itook to the skies. But either
We don't read much Russian,
or If we do we certainly un-
derestimated its value.
There Is no question that
security systems restrict the
exchange and dissemination
Of information, for this Is.
their only purpose. The real
problem is to determine at
what point these security
restrictions introduce more
harm than good. The chal-
lenge here is whether free
men can devise a system
which can match the cold
efficiency Of q totalitarian
state without being forced
into adopting that very sys-
tenn for its accomplishment.
The security system has q bad
habit Of growing into itself
and cutting itself of en-
tirely. In this country where
almost half Of the vast
amount Of money spent for
research and development by
the Government is used to
support classified projects,
the knowledge gained goes
into narrow channels, and be-
cause of these restrictions we
do suffer a certain amount Of
duplication and suffer a gem
eral chronological showdown.
In contrast with this, the
USSR has established elabo-
rate machinery to do just the
opposite. to disseminate the
information as rapidly as
possible so that scientists and
engineers are all as closely
in step as possible with the
forefront Of technical knowl-
edge.
I would hate to think that
within the machinery Of Gov
eminent we are unaware Of
technical developments in
the USSR, but If we are there
is a problem in getting this
information into channels
where it will be Of value. If
the Sputnik affair is any in
dication, we can hardly af-
ford to be too proud to ad-
NIT our own shortcomings
and take positive action. It
is unfortunate that politics
invariably plays q part and
sometimes obscures or colors
the real problem and its So
luton.
Paul E. wilkins.
/ read with considerable
interest your editorial,
NUNS the Word" 1t is
my opinion that Representa-
tive Moss and his committee
are conveying a thought con-
siderably at variance with
your interpretations and con-
illusions. The committee is
reported as having stated:
Maximum security is not
gained by maximum secrecy.
The only true national secu-
rity is the security Of
achievement"
In the era of the late SEN
ator Joseph r. Mccarthy.
scientists like Condor, OPP
penheimer, Urey and others
were labeled security risks
and their genius withheld
from the scientific forces at
work in the United States.
This sitting atmosphere Of
distrust retarded our missile
and satellite program to q
marked extent, for among
scientists there must be a
great deal Of freedom and
expression Of ideas for these
men to be effective. To be
held a security risk for
some minor incident which
may not have any par
ticular significance is q poor
reward for hard labor. long
hours and poor cpay for
service in behalf of ones