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GQMERIGAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, 1 70 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW MORRIS L ERNST. General Counsel ‘ORegen 5-5990 Weekly Bulletin #697 ©0208 OR aotiy REFORTS ROTG LOTALTY _OATH VICTORY A major victory in the campaign agsinst goverment~inposed loyalty oaths vas Fe~ ported last weck by the American Civil Biberties Unione wr fang The Union released a letter fron the Department: of ‘Defense stating that the Dew partment had rescinded an oath for college students enrolied in basic training f. courses of the Reserve Officers Training Corpse’ ‘The oath reqrired the ROTC enrollee = to certify that he is not 2 member of any organization listed by the Attorney General as "subversive," that he did not attend any meeting or social activity sponsored by; these organizations, or distribute the groups! literature, oF. give them ary othe: 2: form of aide . Pees ae yen tn. Opa : The Union protested the oath in a letter to Secretary of json on March 25, asserting thet under the regulations a _. -seribed associations could not be formally enrolled in the ROIS prog only participate on an informal basis, without being permitted to march or to borrow the necessary textbooks and drill equipmente.-<" =: wee Pointing out that in many states universities and colleges which roecoive federal land grants must require students to take the basic two-year ROTC course, the ACLU “etter had stated that tho loyalty oath forces the student "to choose his’ associa~ sions, the spcakers he wishes to 1isten to, the literature he wishes to disb: -t the penalty of being expelled from the university if his choices do not meet with; the approval of the Defense Departuent" . The oath presented a danger both to educa: sion and to democracy, the ACLU had said, by giving the government. control of "edu sion and ideas and associations without that control having any reasonable relat: = ship to national. security o" . 1) IRS al. . The Defensé Department's reply, made public by ACLU executive director Patrick: ‘urphy Malin, came from'Rear Admiral JNMi11, Director of Personnel Policys of 7 April Se Admiral Will wrote that the Departnent had just completed 2 ‘thorough re=! valuation of our policies" o' sould greatly improve our me’ gee cath for basic students in Tou of Anstrustions to the military depertnents’ to 2S letter, the ACLY had steted tat the purpose of Meates far ROTC training, could be met by & oop tthe row cath for basic ROTC students reeds support and defend the Consti' ald 3 that I will samo) and that I taxo Spligation freely, without any nontal pose of evanions 50 help me Gods" aera ° Admiral Hill stated tha’ and association, would be co: 4dr Force and to Naval ROIC students, ¢ -Foress ot . . Fo In a letter sent to Admiral Will” pressing A LPO. gratitude for thee Atdon of the ‘proad oath for the basic ROTC stude: Jin-saigi ‘the retention of form DD98, which is the Viv: members of the Armed Forces, as applied to the advance study ty our organization, in line ‘with ite review of general problens af: eivil ine eroding out of the Artied Porces.security Programe’ 533 MAY 19 1955),