17 MAY 1946, Page 4

The protests of certain scientists—I have not observed any very

distinguished names among them—at the sentence passed on Dr. Alan Nunn May for disclosing secrets connected with atomic energy to the Soviet Government seem misconceived. The sentence, ten years' imprisonment, may be excessive, but the disclosure was in war-time ; it was made in plain violation of the Official Secrets Act, under which Dr. May had solemnly pledged himself to disclose such information• to no one whatever ; and Dr. May himself pleaded guilty. This is an isolated case, and of limited importince. What is really important is the claim advanced in various quarters that secrecy is alien to the whole nature and purpose of science, and that scientists are justified in proclaiming—would indeed not be justified

in concealing—their discoveries even in war-time. This plainly is untenable doctrine. It runi clean counter to the assumption that in war-time, at any rate, there are such things as national interests, and that the national government, not individual scientists, must decide how to protect them. For a scientist who proceeds with his investiga- tions under a pledge of secrecy without protest, and then deliberately violates that pledge, there can really be no defence.