PUBLICITY, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS 289 



sent it to the President for approval. The Bureau at first was unwiUing to 

 approve an organization for the release of scientific information until it had 

 decided its position with reference to the postwar governmental organiza- 

 tion for scientific research. The Bureau, however, early recognized that 

 the public interest would not permit a delay of such proportions as seemed 

 likely to be involved in decisions on postwar research, and that the board 

 was necessary. But it held that the board should be within the govern- 

 mental framework, rather than in a quasi-governmental organization such 

 as the Academy, which was the arrangement favored by the Army, Navy, 

 and OSRD. Bush refused to accede to a suggestion that it be established 

 within OSRD, pointing out that OSRD was temporary and that its per- 

 sonnel was largely voluntary and could not be held together after the end 

 of the war for purposes of reviewing security classifications. Finally, the 

 Bureau of the Budget approved a procedure, and Executive Order No. 

 9568 was issued on June 8, 1945, to provide for the release of scientific 

 information. 



The order authorized the Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion 

 to review all scientific and technical information which (i) had been or 

 might thereafter be developed by, or for, or with funds provided by the 

 Government and (2) was or might thereafter be classified or otherwise 

 withheld from the public for purposes of the national military security. 

 The review was for the purpose of making recommendations for pub- 

 lication to the War and Navy Departments. To assist the Director of 

 War Mobilization and Reconversion in the performance of his duties, the 

 order established an interdepartmental board consisting of the Director as 

 Chairman and five Cabinet Officers (the Secretaries of Justice, Interior, 

 Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor) or their alternates. The War De- 

 partment, the Navy Department, OSRD and NACA (the agencies possess- 

 ing most of the classified information) were authorized to designate one 

 liaison officer each, with authority to attend and participate in the discussions 

 of the board. 



The Director of OWMR was directed to "take such measures as may be 

 appropriate to effectuate the release and publication" of scientific informa- 

 tion which it had been determined might properly be released for publica- 

 tion. In consultation with the Department of State, he was authorized to 

 deal with duly accredited representatives of those foreign governments with 

 which exchange of classified information had taken place, in order that 

 so far as practicable similar policies and procedures should be followed by 

 all in dealing with the declassification and publication of scientific informa- 

 tion. Machinery for the implementation of the Executive Order was estab- 

 lished in the Department of Commerce where an active program of 

 declassification was put in effect. 



