Cleared

The Atomic Energy Commission last week cleared Dr. Edward U. Condon, director of the National Bureau of Standards, of disloyalty. Five months ago, New Jersey's Representative J. Parnell Thomas, chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, had enveloped Dr. Condon in a cloud of suspicion. Condon, trumpeted Thomas, was "one of the weakest links in our atomic security"; he made pals, "knowingly or unknowingly," with "alleged Soviet espionage agents." Thomas refused to give Condon a public (or a private) hearing.

The five AEC commissioners (three of whom are Republicans) had reviewed two "thorough and painstaking" FBI investigations, including interviews with some 300 people. Their report noted that some questioned Condon's "tact, judgement and discretion," that there was some "unfavorable information" about some of his acquaintances.

But on the full record, the commissioners declared flatly: "The commission has no question whatever concerning Dr. Condon's loyalty . . . [It] considers that his continued clearance will not adversely affect the security of the United States . . . and is in the best interests of the atomic-energy program."

Unmoved, the Un-American Activities Committee declared it would continue its own investigation. Said the ineffable Mr. Thomas: "The decision won't affect us one iota."

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