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Office Memorandum — UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO: A. H. Belmont
DATE: January 27, 1951
FROM: C. E. Hennrich
SUBJECT: JOHN WHITESIDE PARSONS [Jack Parsons], wa. ESPIONAGE — IS
PURPOSE
To have Liaison deliver reports in captioned matter to OSI and secure answers to two questions propounded by the Criminal Division.
DETAILS
As you will recall, the subject has admitted in a signed statement removal of 17 documents without authority from the Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, California, where he was formerly employed. Parsons stated he planned to use the data in preparing proposals for building an explosives plant in Israel and also for research work on rockets and other armaments in Israel. Parsons intended to turn the documents over to Herbert Rosenfeld, through whom he hoped to obtain employment as a research worker in Israel.
Copies of reports have been prepared for dissemination to OSI by the Liaison Section.
This matter has been presented to the Department for an opinion and the Department has now advised that it appears there is a violation of Section 793 and possibly Section 794 of Title 18, U.S. Code, but that before a decision is rendered as to whether prosecution is warranted the Department requested we ascertain the following:
1. An expression of opinion from the appropriate source in the Department of the Air Force as to whether the documents involved "relate to the national defense."
2. Is there any objection on the part of the Department of the Air Force to having the documents in question introduced in evidence in the event of prosecution?
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that our Liaison Section deliver copies of reports to OSI and secure answers to the above questions.
2-1-41. OSI checking.
2-22-51. OSI advised that Research and Development Board stated this contract under Army. [Redacted], Army liaison is checking with Army.
r.s.s.
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