The suit, which also names Mr. Brian Crowe, the former first secretary of information, said the Embassy in Washington published "untrue and defamatory statements about the religious principles of the Church of Scientology". No comment was forthcoming from the Embassy.

The Rev. Arthur Maren, a spokesman for the Scientologists, alleged the Embassy had made representations that the church was not a religion and that it was socially harmful.

The suit would present "a true picture of the charter of the church". It would be filed in the Supreme Court because it has original jurisdiction under the United States constitution in all "cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls . . .". — U.P.I.