◆ SpookStack

+ at? re as communists or compunist sympathizers, it ‘is undoubtedly sup=3"" pressing freedom of thought and action in a most important - ve manner. In ao far 8s McCarthyism, or intolerance in politics, " is substituting, for.gimple loyalty to this country, for willing- nese to fight in ite armies. or to give sacrificial service in ** public employment, @ standard which requires blind subservience | to a political thesis, either national or international, such as’ the New Deal on the one hand, or support of Chiang Kai-shek on ; the other hand, it ia putting freedom of thought and honesty of” - purpose into a atraight-jacket, which would deprive wa of our! <>": free heritage and ultimately of our democracy: - In so far as the administration of the loyalty-security program, by its methed’ of interrogation, its manner of conducting hearings, its decisione on individual cases, gives. support to the public belief that the baseless smears of the demagogue are given effect in the loyalty™ - and security program, it has.cooperated in.the destruction of - freedom of thought ‘and expression. te . an . Tyee It has been the constant and consistent effort of the Loyalty Security Board of the Department of State so to conduct the Joe, loyalty and security program as to merit the éonfidence of the @eneral public and of the employees of the State Department in particular, that it is a fair and sound judicial instrument, that it does not give effect to baseless smears, and that it is: ° effectively protecting, not only the Government of the United ©: . States, but algo the loyal employees of that Government. By 60° doing, the Board hopes to contribute to make the Loyalty Program - not only an effective instrument of national defense, but.also ~ & protection for freedom of honest and loyal thought, speech and - action. Unless we succeed we shall not have, in the field of - foreign policy, par observatigg of facts abroad, honest and objective reporting, and unbiadéd judgment at home. Freedom of opinion and expression, and public confidence in that freedom, is not only, as I have said above, the American heritage, but it 1s aleo a shield to the very survival of our form.of democracy.