In Case of Bombing

"If we ever get bombed," said the New York Daily News in a note to staff members, "you'll need a pass to enter restricted areas, or for that matter, maybe to get into the News Building . . . Before the pass is issued, however, the Office of Civilian Defense requires that you sign the attached oath of loyalty." Similar notices were tacked on most Manhattan newsroom bulletin boards last week, or sent to newsmen.

In signing, newsmen simply agreed to "defend the Constitution," and swore they belonged to no organization which would overthrow the Government. Most of them hastily filed their signatures, but a few angrily protested. James Wechsler, editor of the Fair Dealing New York Post, refused to sign or ask staffers to sign, called the oath "terrible." Herald Tribune Newspaper Guildsmen brought up and then voted down a resolution asking Civil Defense officials to take back the request for oaths. If a newspaper's employees didn't sign, it might not be able to publish if the city were attacked. At week's end, neither the pink-eyed Compass nor the Communist Worker had received forms from the Civilian Defense. "A clerical error," said Civil Defense.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.