March 14, 2000

            Dear Attorney General Reno:

            I am writing on behalf of the Committee on
            Human Rights of Scientists of The New
            York Academy of Sciences.  In this we are
            joining other prominent scientific
            organizations such as the American Physical
            Society, the American Association for the
            Advancement of  Science, and the
            Committee of Concerned Scientists
            regarding the condition of detention and the
            denial of bail for Dr. Wen Ho Lee accused of
            mishandling classified information at the
            Los Alamos National Laboratories.  At the
            outset we emphasize that we do not take a
            position on Dr. Lee's guilt or innocence
            which must be determined at trial.

            For more than 20 years, this Committee has
            been deeply concerned about governmental
            treatment and repression of scientists
            throughout the world.  Among the cases in
            which we have intervened were those of
            Professors Andrei Sakharov, Fang Li Zhe,
            Benjamin Levich, and recently Alexandr
            Nikitin, to name just a few.  Often the
            scientists named in these cases were
            accused by their governments of violation of
            secrecy, treason, and other high crimes.
            Our Committee has always paid close
            attention to the conditions under which
            these and other individuals were held during
            their detention, as well as related matters
            such as denial of bail, access to counsel, and
            openness and fairness of trial.

            It has been reported to us that the conditions
            of Dr. Lee's detention have been harsh.  He
            has been shackled in prison, restricted to his
            cell in isolation, had his meetings with
            immediate family curtailed, and been
            restricted about outside information such as
            TV and newspapers.  These conditions
            remind us of the abuses that occurred under
            Communist rule in the former Soviet Union
            and occur to this day in other totalitarian
            states such as in China, Iran, and others.

            The impression given to the world by the
            Government's treatment of Dr. Lee is that
            he has already been found guilty of charges
            against him.  Witness, for example, the
            statement repeated by CIA Director George
            Tenet that Lee's actions were taken "with
            intent to harm the United States."  We
            earnestly call to your attention that Dr. Lee's
            treatment during his detention has had a
            seriously chilling effect on the scientific
            community, especially because of the
            suspicion that his ethnic background has
            played some role in this treatment and in the
            unproven public allegations made about his
            possible motives for the acts of which he is
            accused.

            In addition, reliable reports reach us that the
            recruiting and retention of top scientific staff
            at our major national laboratories, including
            weapon laboratories, have been damaged by
            this affair.  We urge that you look into the
            treatment of Dr. Lee and see to it that the
            physical and psychological conditions of Dr.
            Lee's detention conform to the highest
            international standards for the humane
            treatment of people in detention awaiting
            trial.  Continuation of the harsh treatment of
            Dr. Lee will expose us to ridicule when we
            criticize such treatment in other countries
            around the world.

            The New York Academy of Sciences is an
            independent, non-profit, global membership
            organization committed to advancing
            science, technology, and society worldwide.
            Established in 1817, the Academy is the
            oldest scientific organization in New York
            and the third oldest in the nation.  It is an
            international organization with nearly 40,000
            members in more than 150 countries.

            We respectfully await your response in this
            matter of importance to this Committee and
            to the international scientific community.

            Sincerely,

            Joseph L. Birman
            Chairman of the Committee on Human
            Rights of Scientists