Less than a week after protesters prevented Nicaraguan Contras from delivering a Boylston Hall speech, a government professor yesterday called on President Derek C. Bok to invite the revolutionaries back to Harvard and ensure them the opportunity to speak.

"I wonder whether the extent of our devotion to free speech is in question," Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. told Bok at yesterday's full meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Mansfield, an expert on Machiavelli, said the University in the past has tried both discipline and "sweet reason" to dissuade students from limiting speakers' freedom of expression. But Mansfield said that because neither method has eliminated such protest, Harvard should insure speakers the right to address the community.

Bok said he had already considered Mansfield's suggestion, but that he had dismissed it after discussions with faculty members.

"Their feeling was that the University's taking the initiative and inviting the people back would be going beyond" what is considered proper, Bok said.

Bok said the University would, however insure the Contras' freedom to speak if a campus organization invited them back to Harvard. He said after the meeting that the University would also protect the rebels' right to speak if Mansfield invited them.

Bok said he would welcome the faculty's input on how to protect of freedom of speech, and suggested the professors take up the issue at a future meeting. "I would be much moved by the feelings of the faculty," Bok told the 150 faculty members present yesterday.

"I plan to keep the issue alive," Mansfield said. Mansfield said he does not know whether he will try to have a discussion of free speech docketted for faculty discussion.

"The Contras are said to be dubious democrats, then we bring them here and teach them the meaning of democracy," Mansfield said after the meeting.

"To that you could add the petty intolerance which has been shown to President Reagan and to Attorney General [Edwin] Meese [III]," Mansfield said.

The dean of the Kennedy School of Government last week apologized for his decision to offer Meese an award for "distinguished public service."

The decision to grant the medal--later labelled a "thank you to Meese for participating in the K-School's 50th anniversary celebration--has met with strong protest from K-School students and alumni, as well as students and faculty in other Harvard schools. Meese will receive the medal May 20.

Reagan late last month declined the University's invitation to speak at its 350th birthday celebration, which is also the anniversary of higher education in America. The University earlier this year decided not to give honorary degrees to distinguished participants, after faculty members and alumni expressed their opposition to granting Reagan such an award.