Correspondence regarding declassification of Scientific Advisory Panel report

This correspondence, authored by Phillip G. Strong, Deputy Assistant Director, is addressed to Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner regarding the declassification of a report produced by the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects. The panel, which included Drs. H. P. Robertson (Chairman), Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, Thornton Page, and Dr. Berkner, was constituted in January 1953. The Air Force requested that the conclusions of the panel's report be declassified for press release. Strong notes that he has consulted with Dr. Robertson and Dr. Goudsmit, who agree that the conclusion in paragraph 4a can be declassified. However, they, along with the Agency, oppose the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 3 or the recommendation in paragraph 4b. Furthermore, there is a strong desire to keep the Agency's association with the panel confidential. Strong indicates that the Air Force has assured him that the names of the panel members would only be used within official circles and not released to the press, though he acknowledges that if approval for the use of names is granted, they may eventually become common knowledge. The letter concludes by requesting Dr. Berkner's reaction to the Air Force's declassification proposal and his stance on the use of his name.