Shapley Departs for 'Non-Political' Trip to Mexico City Tonight

Harlow Shapley, Paine Professor of Practical Astronomy, declared last night that there was no relation between his scheduled departure for Mexico City tonight and his recent bout with the Congressional committee for Un-American activities.

He goes to the Mexican capital, he said, to attend the inauguration of President-elect Licenciado Miguel Aleman, as the latter's personal guest. "As such I will represent only American science," he stated.

In plenary session last Friday, Representative John E. Rankin's committee determined to pass over proposed contempt action against Shapley for the time being. The scientist therefore felt justified in leaving the Independent Citizens Committee here, but said that his counsel, Thomas H. Eliot, would be steadily available in Boston during his absence.

No Stranger to Mexico

Shapley also announced plans to attend a meeting of the Latin-American Club of the Scientific Society of America, in his capacity as president of the organization. No stranger to scientific congresses in Mexico, he has previously conducted one on astronomy and one on physics in the country.

In an attempt to promote the spread of science in Mexico, Shapley made known his intention to discuss with native publishers the possibility of translating American scientific books into Spanish.