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"The apprehensions of this faculty on the effect of the Speaker Ban Act have already been borne out.

"Case No. 1.

"Professor Robinson, of our Department of Genetics and Director of our Institute of Biological Sciences, was informed by a colleague in the School of Medicine at Chapel Hill early in the spring that the distinguished scientist, J. B. S. Haldane, would possibly be available for lectures in this area in the fall. Dr. Haldane is one of the world's most honored scientists and is now attached professionally to the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory of the Government of Orissa in India. In a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal the editor of the Journal referred to him as "the distinguished British philosopher-scientist. " (This piece was reprinted in the October 14th issue of the U. S. News and World Report). Correspondence ensued between Dr. Robinson and Dr. Haldane in which Dr. Haldane indicated possible subjects with which he would deal in lectures here. They were of a highly technical and scientific character and represented thinking at the leading edge of knowledge in genetics and the application of mathematics and statistics to research in genetics. Meantime, however, House Bill 1395 had become law. Interpretations were not immediately available. Nevertheless the law raised inevitable questions about the legality of the invitation to Dr. Haldane.

"Dr. Haldane had been chairman of the Editorial Board of the Daily Worker in England from 1940 to 1949. This would not necessarily make him a 'known member of the Communist Party', but suggested it so strongly that one of the scientists at Chapel Hill assumed he must be a member and properly raised the point in a letter to the University Administration, bemoaning the fact that we undoubtedly would not be able to have him and calling attention to the 'predicament' which would 'make both the State and the University a laughing stock in the academic world.' Professor Robinson had no alternative but to write Dr. Haldane a dignified and sympathetic letter asking the necessary question: 'If I could have a reply at an early date regarding your present status with the Communist Party, I will know how to proceed with our plans. ' Dr. Haldane's reply was no surprise. He stated:

'I absolutely refuse to answer your question as to my membership of the communist party. This is a matter of principle. The Soviet Union does not ask whether intending scientific visitors are members of the Swatantra or jan sangh parties here, or of the conservative party in England,.....................................I am perfectly willing to sign a declaration that while in North Carolina I will make no statements in public or private on political or economic matters. But in the interests of others less fortunately situated than myself, I refuse to answer the question you put to me..................... I have been granted a visa by your consul in Calcutta, who was most polite, asked no questions, and was told no lies. Your Federal Government realizes that persons maybe communists, anarchists, polygamists, or what you will, but that their opinions on scientific matters may be of value. Your State Legislature thinks differently, and so long as it does so I shall not accept your invitation. May I add that I have been at some trouble preparing the lectures which I had hoped to deliver at Raleigh. I shall attempt to arrange my tour in the U. S. A. without coming to North Carolina..................'

"It is of interest that subsequently Dr. Robinson, visiting with Dr. Haldane in Geneva at the International Genetics Congress, was told in unequivocal terms by Dr. Haldane that he is not a member of the Communist Party but that he would not write this information in a letter. He is substituting visits to Cornell University and the University of Rochester for the time that he would have spent in North Carolina.

"Case No. II.

"On September 30, 1963, the head of the Department of Applied Mathematics wrote the Chancellor for guidance. His letter reads: