DREW PEARSON ON SCOTT MCLEOD

Drew Pearson, one of the more controversial writers about contemporary American political life, devoted his column on April 30, 1957, to Scott McLeod, up for Senate confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

McLeod rose to prominence during his conduct of a purge within the State Department. Mr. Pearson states:

"As part of his purge, McLeod appointed Dimitri Dikanikus, former writer for Time magazine, to prepare a special report on homosexuality and what it had done to bring about the collapse of other civilizations. Dikanikus found there were fewer perverts in the State Department than in the Army, Navy and Air Force; that homo sexuality had had no effect on the fall of Greece or Rome.

"McLeod was annoyed by the report, buried it."

MOVE AFOOT TO REVIEW UNDESIRABLE DISCHARGES

Public hearings were held in mid-May by a House Armed Services Subcommittee on a bill designed to provide for a more equitable review of other than honorable dis– charges from the armed forces.

H.R. 1108 was introduced by Congressman Clyde Doyle of California early in the present session of Congress and states in part: "Boards for the correction of military or naval records shall give consideration to satisfactory evidence relating to good character and conduct in civilian life after discharge or dismissal in determining whether or not to correct certain discharges and dismissals."

In 1955, in the Army alone, 14,566 "undesirable" discharges were issued. This is the type of discharge homosexuals receive, although it may be given for other reasons.

About 40 other Congressmen have introduced identical bills.

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