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OCR Page 1 of 2#945
508
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 23, 1946
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Freedom of conscience is basic to our American tradition
of individual liberty. The Congress recognized this traditional
freedom when it enacted the Selective Training and Service Act of
1940. That Act recognized conscientious objection to war by reason
of religious training and belief, and provided alternative
service in work of national importance under civilian direction.
Under this program, about 25,000 men were inducted and
NARA
served in the Armed Forces as non-combatants. Some of these men
received awards for heroism up to and including the Congressional
Medal of Hohor. In addition, about 12,000 men served through the
war in Civilian Public Service Camps, where they performed tasks in
connection with the preservation of our natural resources.
Acting under the powers granted the President by the
Constitution, I have today issued an Executive order creating the
President's Amnesty Board. This Board will examine the cases of
all persons convicted under the Selective Training and Service Act
of 1940, and will recommend those persons it deems deserving of
Executive clemency.
The Chairman of the President's Amnesty Board will be the
Honorable Owen J. Roberts of Washington, D. C., former Associate
Justice, Supreme Court of the United States; recently Chairman of
the War Department Advisory Board on Clemency. The other members will
by Mr. James F. O'Neil, Chief of Police of Manchester, New Hampshire,
former Vico-Chairman of the Americanization Committee, the American
Logion; and Mr. Willis Smith of Raleigh, North Carolina, former
President of the American Bar Association.
(OVER)
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