SHAPLEY REFUTES CHARGES

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I was much interested in Mr. Lukas' sympathetic treatment of the Conant affair in Wednesday's CRIMSON. I note that my personal activities were introduced into the hearings. Those who know me personally, or who have looked into the matter, do not need and would not be interested in this note, but there must be many students who are puzzled by the statements that I have attended every important communist meeting in this country. This is, of course, complete nonsense. The charge relative to communist front, organizations is also untrue. I have never attended a communist meeting and have had no contact whatever with the communist party. In fact, there is a sworn statement to that effect in Washington.

Among the many good reasons for the astronomers' opposition to communism in the simple fact that in the 1936-1937 purges in Russia, their leading astronomers were officially liquidated. Naturally such procedure does not appeal to us. Harlow Shapley,   Paine Professor of   Practical Astronomy