Correspondence regarding declassification of the Scientific Advisory Panel report

This document is a letter addressed to Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner regarding the declassification of a report produced by a Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects. The panel, which included Dr. H. P. Robertson as Chairman, Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, and Thornton Page, was constituted in January 1953. The Air Force requested that the conclusions of the report be declassified for press use. The author, Philip G. Strong, notes that he has discussed the matter with Dr. Robertson and Dr. Goudsmit, who agree that specific paragraphs (paragraph 2 and the recommendation in paragraph 4a) can be declassified. However, the author notes that the Agency does not agree to the declassification of the conclusion in paragraph 2 or the recommendation in paragraph 4b. Furthermore, the author expresses concern regarding the disclosure of the Panel's association with the Agency, suggesting that paragraph 1 should be rewritten to eliminate this connection. The letter also addresses the potential use of the Panel members' names, noting that the Air Force has indicated names would be used only within official circles and not given to the press, though the author warns that if approval is granted for the use of the names, they may become common knowledge. The letter concludes by requesting Dr. Berkner's reaction to the Air Force's declassification proposal and his stance on limiting the declassification and withholding the Agency's connection to the Panel.