The National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods today urged President Eisenhower to appoint a Presidential Commission on National Security and Individual Freedom to “study the best ways of protecting the nation from Communist danger without at the same time subverting traditional American freedom.”
A resolution to this effect was passed by the executive board of the Federation. The resolution suggests that the Commission should include “religious leaders of all faiths and other outstanding citizens who will be representative of a broad cross-section of American life,” and that it “should be charged with the responsibility of recommending such safeguards as it may deem necessary in the conduct of lawful investigations by legislative investigating bodies.”
“We recognize the continuing danger to America, world freedom, and religious freedom, from the forces of Communism,” the resolution states. “Constant vigilance is needed to guard against these dangers. We support efforts to guard our liberties against subversion, through proper governmental agencies and due process of law. Yet we recognize that wrong methods of meeting the Communist menace can and do undermine the very civil and spiritual liberties which they claim to protect. The whipping up of hysterical fears and the making of irresponsible attacks upon individuals who are not given an adequate opportunity to defend themselves must be condemned as un-American and inimical to the American democratic tradition.”
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