The Future of Germany Norman Howe, Christians and Humanists Peter
Barraciough G. W. Stecvens W. F. Lolthou.st The Dog It Was R. aye Seece
'SHE OPPENHEIMER CASE
Sts,—lain Hamilton's article on the Oppen- heimer controversy appears to be based on a very incomplete study of the published docu- ments. He quotes the findings of the Gray Board without mentioning that this majority report represented only two of its three mem- bers. More important still, he takes no notice of the fact that the Atomic Energy Commis- sion, to whom the board reported, disowned the major reason given by the board, i.e., Oppenheimer's lack of 'enthusiastic support' for the hydrogen bomb programme. The AEC went out of their 'way to stress that this had no influence on their decision. (By this time the suggestion that a scientist's reputation could be ruined for lack of enthusiasm for official policy had caused much adverse pub- licity.)
Instead, the AEC's decision (passed by a four to one vote) is stated to be based mainly on Oppenheimer's lack of discretion in choos- ing his friends (Mr. Hamilton refers to 'apparently but not actually dangerous friend- ships') and on his fundamefital defects of character. It is strange that Mr. Lewis Strauss, who, as chairman of the AEC has much to say on these defects of character, subsequently. as chairman of the Board of the Institute for Advanced Study, votes to continue. Oppen- heimer as director of the Institute, a post for which fundamental defects of character would appear to be a serious handicap.
not be tried for our opinions; American scientists and government servants should be grateful to the AEC for establishing this much in their ruling, thus abandoning the view implied in their charge sheet against Oppenheimer.
I would agree with Mr. Hamilton that the Oppenheimer case is not entirely similar to that of Dreyfus. Against Captain Dreyfus there was a definite charge; amongst the shifting charges and verdicts of the Oppenheimer case the only thing evident from the beginning is the sentence.—Yours faithfully,
R. E. PEIERLS
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