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Lattimore to Speak Despite Legion! Attack

Despite an official protest from the American Legion, the United Nations Council will hold its March 1 forum featuring Owen Lattimore, who was indicted for perjury against the United States in December 1952.

In defense of the policy of the United Nations Council, president Duncan H. Cameron '56 declared last night that "the United Nations Council has asked Owen Lattimore to speak at Harvard not because it embraces his views on foreign affairs, but rather because it feels an obligation to the students. The Council must present a variety of opinions and possible solutions to our problems in world affairs so that the students... can more adequately decide for themselves... the most workable foreign policy for the United States."

American Legion Objects

Lattimore is scheduled to speak at the forum with Dr. M. S. Sundaram, cultural attache to the Indian embassy in Washington, on the subject of American and Asiatic relations.

Following a meeting last night of the Anti-Subversive Committee of the Massachusetts Department of the American Legion, Chairman William M. Curtis '24 issued an official statement on the United Nations Council forum.

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"At the present time," the Legion report stated, "Owen Lattimore is under indictment and we feel that the United Nations Council is exhibiting very poor judgement as well as taste to invite such an individual to appear before it..."

"Try Lattimore First"

"We object to Owen Lattimore being invited to this or any other forum either at Harvard or at any other location within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Owen Lattimore should first be given his day in court," the report added.

Addressing the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, Senator Patrick A. McCarran said that the committee and the American people had faced in Lattimore a man "flagrantly defiant, out-spokenly discourteous, and persistent in efforts to confuse the facts."

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