Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-02-26


were true, and who said the
Air Force should have stuck
by them.
Sharp Doesn't Deny Accuracy
The upshot apparently is
that the manual will be re-
issued without using names Of
churches or churchmen but,
according to Representative
Walter, Democrat Of Pennsyl-
vania, without any substantial
changes in the other state
ments. He quoted Secretary of
the Air Force Dudley c. Sharp
as saying that yesterday at a
closed hearing of the House
Un-American Activities Com
mittee.
Mr.. Walter reported "the
Secretary said he had no rea-
son to believe any Of the
statements in the manual were
untrue"
Mr.. Sharp later issued a j.
statement saying the manual
had been withdrawn without
any determination as to
whether the charges were true
or false"
Taking note of news reports
that he had testified all charges
in the manual were true. Mr..
Sharp added 81 did not so
testify" His statement did not |
say specifically whether he had
said any of the charges were
true or we're false.
Angry Cleric Wants Denial
He said the manuals with
drawal was ordered because
of the general improperly of
treating so important a sub
ject, including the naming of
specific individuals and organ
izations, without thorough re-
view and approval at the high
est levels, providing full pro-
lection for conStitutionally
guaranteed rights"
That statement drew further
criticism from the Rev. Eugene
Carson Blake, chairman of the
committee on Interpretation of
the National Council of
Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A.
THE effect of the Secretary's
careful wording" DR.. Blake
said in Oklahoma City. lis
almost as bad as if he said the
charges we're true" He said he
wants assurance there will be
an end to Government support !
Of such allegations.
The Air Force said its policy
has been and will continue
to be to alert its personnel to
the dangers of Communist in
filtration into the military"
An apparent failure to OBJ
tain review of the manual "at
the highest levels" was one Of
the thorns pricking the Air
Force.
In a transcript Of the COM
mittee session. made public by
the committee, Mr.. Sharp was
quoted as saying the Air Force
is still investigating the pro-
duction of the manual.
He indicated that its author,
Homer H. Hyde, a civilian en-
ploye at Lakeland Air Force
Base in Texas, faced possible |
disciplinary action.
II think that people who do
not follow their Instructions
and it might appear that Mr..
Hyde did not-should be GER
tainly reprimanded. if that is
the case" Mr.. Sharp said.
Jackson Warns Him on That
The Secretary said the Air
Force had laid down guidelines
on which the manual was to be
based land it appears the out
lines were not followed"
Representative Jackson, Re-
publican Of California. COM
mented that some sort of
hell will break loose on the
floor of the House of Repre-
sentatives" in the Air Force
does reprimand Mr.. Hyde.
Mr.. Hyde has defended his
booklet as a tool for combating
Communist activities.
In a statement last week, Mr..
Sharp had said that the manual
was distributed after "only
cursory review" by a civilian at
Lakeland.
Under established procedure,
headquarters of the Continent
tai Air Command (the outfit
Of which the training command
is a part) is supposed to review
the outline of a manual, but
not the final, complete manual.
Mr.. Sharp said the manuals
author apparently did not fol-
low his instructions closely.
The original protest came
from the National Council Of
Churches. composed of major
Protestant d omin a tionsI
claiming IS million members.
One statement in the manual
said the National Council "offi-
cially sponsored the Revised
Standard Version of the Bible.
Of the IS persons in this prof.
ect, 80 have been affiliated with
pro-Communist fronts, projects
and publications"
The National Council pro-
tested to the Defense Depart
ment that this and other state
ments in the manual we're out
rageous," and violated the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
James Wine, associate gen.
eral secretary. limited at the
possibility" of a totalitarian
indoctrination plot among the
military.
That set off a series of apol-
ogetic statements from Mr..
Sharp and Secretary of De-
Tense Gates, together with Or
Harc for q ol,ooly of AtIaa,. k,o;,@