JN TIME of strife there arises a struggle for men's allegiance; loyalty of all kinds becomes a matter of supreme importance, and charges of sedition and treason are made and returned all too often without that discrimination which prevails in the less tense atmosphere of more peaceful periods. At the moment there appears to be a lull in the war of ideas-a time, it seems to me, to shape a definition of academic treason which is somewhat more discriminating than those popularly employed. Such a definition may perhaps prove useful when the next wave of laws imposing loyalty oaths and the like sweeps across the country. A charge of treason is so easy to make, so hard to withdraw, and often so fatal in its consequences that its accurate definition and delimitation are well worth while. Treason is willed disloyalty, a breach of faith, a denial of basic dogma. By definition it is spiritual; it is a matter of head, will, and heart; it is irrational, the product of such emotions as hurt pride, ambition, covetousness, loss of faith, anger. Its antonym is honor or loyalty to a faith, and loyalty also is irrational-a matter of head, will, and heart. Our allegiance to the ancient commandment, Honor thy father and thy mother, has made us experience horror in the presence of treason within the family circle or intimate group, as when Lear is betrayed by his daughters or Christ by Judas. Clearly then, treason, like honor, is a value judgment; and to define a value judgment at any time is difficult, but to define it in the murky atmosphere of our time is doubly so.