REF ID:A40069 

Op-20-2-mcs 

• 

28 February 1947 

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. W. F. FRIEDMAN 

Enclosed is a copy of a iBl.rly recent opinion of the Attorney-General of the United States with 

regard to withholding from Congressional committees 

information concerning intelligence activities. 

This decision may be of interest in connection 

with the current budget hearings. 

Encl. 

J.'N.,WEN~ 

Captain, USN 

@'pproved for Release by NSA on 09-26-2013 pursuantto E.O. 1352e 
,,, 

• 

REF ID:A40069 

()PDIOll OJP THE ATTORIEt GElf f.:R1'L 01 THE 

OBITil'> STATES 

............... 

POIITIOI OP THE t..'XICUTIVE ur~~)AR'ltm)ff R .GABDI:lQ INVESTIO.·~TIOI 

REPORTS 

I\ la the ;'081,ion ot th• Dep;irtment of .. Tustice, restl:ltecl 

now With the approY'.l and ;.:t \he dirft.ction of the Pres1-

dmt. t=hat all ln•••t1g;,t1Ye reports are cont14ent1al 

documents ot the executi•• cte;:;;~rtaen~ and that c0n1r••-

a1ona.1 or public t.lCceas thereto would not be in the ·,ubl!e 

interest. 

Thia ttccords w1 th the concluaions .re::;.ched . by a long line . ot predecessors in tt·1e o.t'f'ice ot Attorney General and 

•1th t.IH1 position t<iken by the l'resident troa t1IZ>e to 

t1•• sine• Washin1t.on' • aclr.tinistrd.tion; lilld this di•criitt:loa in th• exeeut1Ye br ·nch has bean upheld •;1nd reilpec- , ted by the Ju41c1a17. 

April )O~ 1941. 

Hon. Carl Vinson, 

Chairman. Hou•• COllllittea on ~hY&1 Atr~1rs. 

My •ear Iii'. Yinaon 1 

I ha•• your lett•J;" or April ::3, requesting tht.t y~ur comittee .. tumish..S w!th all Pederal 13l11"eau o~ Invt.tst1ght1on :reμorta •1nc• 

,· I•• 19'9, to1•'11er •1th all tuture reports, meorarida, and corr(~s­

~ence ot the J"edaral ?!ureau ot·In•est1gat1on, or the JJepartaent 

•t J'uat1o•• in comrect1on. with •InY:est1c:, tiona MHSe by the l>ept:rtIMll\ of Jut1c• ar1·a1n1 out ot 1trik•1, subve!'s1v• aet1Y1t1es in 

eomaecU.. with 1;:,,bQ.r di•t"..it.as·. or ~at;or 4i•"1rbuneee or any ks.n. 

1a 1nduatrlal esteb.l1sJ\ments wh1eh h,;:~v• nnval contraet.s, either a1 

prllle contractors or aubcontractcrs.• 

rour r•qu .:;;t \0 be fu.rn1sh.ed repor.ts of' t·t-.e l'ederril 'Rureau o!' lnY4St1g~t1on 1& on& ot t.iiv r!:•mY made by Congretssiona: CC'llllitteea. 

I haYe en ay desk. at this t.i.me ttv·o other !1·~c'.· re~mests '!nr acr--ass 

tn 'federal l'nrer-u of Invf1st1g::t1on files. Th• numher ot" t}-·eae req11ests wotlld .alone mal{e compliAnce 1m;r,.;ct1cable, part1cul rly 

w~~ere the requ•sts. ~'re or so coaprehen~i•e l'.I ciir .. rf1cter :..1s tho•• 

contained in )«)Ur letter •. In Y1ew o!' the 1ncrei:is1ng ft''9Quency or 

tnel'Je rectuesta. l ctes1re to rest.~te ou~ polie:y at some length, tog•t.her 1fitt: the rr;;nsons ~hieh require it. 

ltf CLOFURlt (A) 
• 

REF ID:A40069 

It 1s the position ot this vep.:;rtment, · re~tnted now with the 

approYal of and at th• direction or the President, that nll 1nvest1rgat1•• re~;orts ~1re c"nt1dent1al documents or the execut1Ye department 

ot tl~e Go•ernaent, to 1tid in the duty laid 'Jpon th• Pr•sident hy the 

Conetitutioll to "take care t.hnt the lnws he f:<:i1thfully executed,"/ 

and that congres.aionHl or pu'h.:1c ;i.ce41us tc them 'A'ould not be in the 

public interest. . Disclosure or the reports could not do otherwise than seriously 

prejudice ln.w enforcement. Counsel tor ~1 defend"'nt or :•rcspeo'1•• de.fen4ant, could h 0

,Ye no gre.;,ter help th.tin to know how much ·or how 

litt'.!e 1ntom:•t1on the Go•ernment ht.s, f•nd wh:>1.t witnesBes or aoaroea 

ot inform;1t1on it cu,n rely upon. '!'his is exactly ~:h·:.tt the!lle reports ~r• intended to cont;;t1n. 

·Disclosure or the re~"orta Ht this ~JHrtlculHr time wcu.lct also 

?l"•lu41e• the nationAl defense and be ot aid nnd. comfort to th• Yery 

subYersi•• •l--ta again•' ·•h1eh yot1 •i•h to '.''rotect the country. Pnr this reason •• httYe a<H1e extraordinary efforts to see th<.~ t the 

res\llts of countereaplon~g• activities an4 1ntell1&8ftc• &ct1•1t1•• 

of th1s Deparbent 1n•ol"Y1nc those element• are iep£ wlthlilthe · 

tew•at poasible hhn4s. A catalogue of' ~·erson.a under 1n•est1g.-1tion 

or auap1e1on, und "t'That •• know about thea, would be or ine1tim1."ble 

sft'Yie• to fqre-.cn •-1••; and tntoraa.tian whl~h could be 10 ueeca 

canaot_ be too e&oae.'..y pardecl. 

lforeoYer. dgeloaure !t ~ ~or!J wo~ld bt·ar serious pr•1'&- 41e• to \he tutP i tiii6i1ibsa 'J iriL 1\lr•~.9.. .. of... ln'fe1t11atio!!.!. 

A• you proba.bl7' know, much ~t this 1ntormat1on is g1Yen in contidmoe an4 can oal:r be obtained upon pletlge not to ct1sclose ita 

soanes. A a1aolosve ot the sources woulct ..,_barrass 1n!'onant•-

9Gllet1 .. a 1a their .. plo711ent, soaetimes 1n their soo1al relation•• 

and ·in ex,rea• ca"• •11ht n• endtu'lger their 11.Y••• 'le regrtr4 

tb• keeping or ff!: 1th ""th cmtf14ent1al 1ntora:.m ts as an 1nd1 •P9ft•-

a bl• oond1 t1• or ruture •fflc1tmcy. . 

.Dtscloaure or 1nfo1'11ation C<~ntLined in the reports m1~ht '~lso 

be tb• aro••••t Jd.ad ot 1njus-1ee to Innocent 1nct1•1duhls. - Imestj,. pt1•• re:·orts include .lends e.nd suep.1c1onai ~nd someti••s ••en the 

•'8tements ot aal1cioua or ld.s1ntorme4 peop e~ EYen tllough later 

and aore c01tplete reparta exoner~t• the 1nd1Y1cluala, ·the l1•• of' 

particular or seleoted report• m.ight constitute th• crossest ·111.fu.stic•• and •• all know that. a eorreet.1• nner c'~tches up •1th an 

aecuaat1on. 

, In ooncludlng thN. t the ,JUbl1c interest dotts not permt t rtitnflral 

aeceas to l"el'ere.1 Bureau or· In•••tigntion re)orte tor 1atonut1on 

b7 th• aany Congrea•ional eOllllittees who from time to •im• ask for 

lt, I u tollowJ.ni thtt COJ'lclusions reached b7 a lon1 line or d1st11r 

guiabed pred•cesuora 1n th1t ottlce who haYe un1Foraly taken the sitae 

•l••• E:Daplea or thl1 are to· betound amon1 t~ following lettert, 

aaon1 other•• 
........................ RE .. F .. I•D•:•A•4•0•0•6•9 .................... ... 

.. 

I 

Letter of Attt\rne7 Oenar1 .. 1 r.aox. to the Spef".k•r of t'.h4 Ylouae, datuc: 

April 27, 1904~ decl1nin1 to eoaμly ~1th a re•o1ut1on :~-~· the P.ouoe 

i-equest.intt the · 1tttom•1 Oener.11 .to f>.irn.1Rh t.}:.'1 Hou•• •i~h all 

pap•ra ,..,nd 4oeua911t~ n.n4 other tntci-antion cc-nc.ernine the 1nvoat1- g~t1on or th• Wotb•rn 8eeu.r1t1•• e .. ~••· · . . 

Lett.er or .A.ttome7 Q':l'n8r!:· .. Ponapnrt.e to t>• S;t•~·k•r c!' the 'House,. 

da t"ct .April 13, :i..9~·.a, 4eel1nin~. tc eo•~~ly ,r1 th ~! ?i1~ol'1t1on or 

th• HouH re<;ueat1nc th• Attom•~' Gttnerfl.l to furn1eh to tl.• Sous• 

lnra·n&\10.ft eone&rn1n-' tl'Ht 1nYeatt1ita~1on or ca!"taln cor1-•ora\1on• 

•1n1ed 1n th• 1Mnur.~et.ur• t:'f wood. ;..ulp or P.l"lnt paper. · 

tA'teP of· Attorne1 0-er,,l 1f1ckersh.tam to th• Speaker o.f' th• Hou1•, 

4at.tt4 llerch 11, 19121 d.•clln1n.g to OOSlJlY •tih a ree;,lution or th• 

Rouse. Dlree\ln1 th• Attnrnoy Cenert.l to tul"!llah to ~ Houae 

l.atol'll&tion eoncel'lltn1 an 1n•••t11utlon of the ... l~•r truet. 

te••·· or ••tome, Omer"l aefte7n.olda. '° ,h. 8eeret.ir1 to ti\•. Pr••ld•'t eat .. A.up•• 281 19141 atatiac 'hat 1t would be 1ncom- . pat.1t»l• a•ll Ute ptlbllo 1ntareat. ~ •end to th• Senate in reapona• 

to t•• l'•Mla,1on. r•Pol"t• •4• to \h• A\,ornay General by h1• 

aa.,.1•'• ·re1art11ng •1ola~lona ot l•• b1 t.he S\A1ld.d1d 011 co. 

J.dter ot A&tona•1 Ganerial Gre10'17 to th• Prttaiden' or·th• Senate, .. .._. ._bl'u&IT 2'• 191,, deolln1nc to.eo11pl7 •1th~ re•olut1an ot ~ 8enaie r.quentia1 th• Attorney_ Qen.er3l. to report to th• S91Ult• 

bl• ft.U.1• and eonolu•1ons 1n t-h• 1n••at11:~t1on or th• ••l\lng 1-lut17• ·. . • . IAtt• of A'tona.,. 0.•r•l &ar1ent to th• oha1run or the :fo11•• .1111iua.,-·c1•11S''"• .. , .. Jw I, 1926, deolln1n1. 'o coaplJ •1th 

hl• ~.tt .. st to tl&Pft ower 'o th• COllllitt•• all ~•pera in th• ·tiles 

·ot tib• .. .,.,.naeat relatln« t~ the aerier or e~l'tain oil coapan1••· 

la ~klac thl• pe.S.,1on II)' ,:rrM.•e••aor• 1n th1• o!'tlc• bil.n · . -toli..... •1n•t .. exu•.:.lee. 

, Sine• Ute "4i11naln.1 or th• Qoyeraam&, tb• exentiY• twaacb baa 

hea till•· to till• 'be9l ooatronted •1th th• maple;~ aan\ .dut:..r or d•eltn1ag t~ f'tlNl•h \o t.h• con1re•• and to 'h• eourts s..ro .... tlon •hioh 

It ha• ~c<;ut"Nd· and which 1• neeeaaary 'o ~-' 1n 'h• -1a1•'1't4.,1on 

of ab'~'••• A• earl7 a:a 1196, tNI -llouae ot R•Ifl'asenhtlwea req .. Jtef 

Pr•slt .. t Waahln1ton to lay 'beto•• ta• lloaa• a cop7 ot 'il• laa • ...._ &1 .. • 'o alb1~t•r• or the lln1te4 States 'Wt\o aego,iA'tMl a tr••'7 with 

or .. t !rlta.in, '°l•tner wi\h lh• corres;;on4eno• anti o\her 40...aa•• 

n1 ... ua1 \o tttat trenty. la 4eclln1nc t.o c•pl1 •1th the requ••'• Pr••1••' .. waah1ntton sai•a · 

_,_ 

,. 

\ I 

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I 

REF ID:A40069 

..,...~• K~ 1 t 1tt ••sr.t.1u, to tLff au.• acfain:.L· tr~::. ti on o!'· th~ Gov·orrut~nt 

that t.b• bo\11'\Clt..rles fixed ty th{! t;onat!. t.ut1on ll~tR~en the di f:"'ere:nt 

d•r•rtaenta shoul.d tie :\r0:'1'erved, ~ just r...,,,. ru to the Ccnst1tut.1on 

ant te th•' duty .of ay otr1c• • • • forbid• a coapl1Anee wt th your 

reqa.pat.• (8•• R1eltard.son, •••••«•• ~n4 Pa:-:ere or th• Pres14wnta, 

•• 1• PP• 194• 196.) 

Ja 18251 the Rouae or R•prcsenti.\\t1Yes rer;Uft!tted Pr~s1dent 

loaroe to 'ranuit eer\Ain t!ooitaeat• relattna t.o th• conduct or th• 

ett1••• or the l••Y ot t:-te Un1t•d St'1tes nn the Jlaetrte Ocean. •nd 

•t o'1l•r vubl1c agent• 1n Senath .taaric"';. In his re ill11 ?resident 

Monroe retaeed \o e~I>lY •1th. the re.:ru••t 1 atJ•t1nc thllt to Clo 10 

•llhL Rb~eet 1nd1Y1du.ala ta aajuat er1t1c!••J th~t th• 1nd1•1daala 

1n••1• .. •ho'.ild nQt be censured •1,hout ''u:t. e•ute, whieh could not 

M aso•r'ta1n .. unt!l. a.rt•r a t}~orough r.1.nd 1at}art1al 1n•••t1«~•t1on 

or thell' eonchaet; Jind th ,.t under tho•• c1rct111atanc•• 1t W·;ii.& thO\Jfat ~ha' eoaunlc-11g1on ot the doeuaen\1 would not eoa~;ort w1th the pub11e lnt•r••t nor w1Ul Wha't w1ss due to th• parties eonc•m•d• -tsee 

!Uctui.tl'Cllon, •••••r•• and \'tti-Htt'I ~r th• Pr•a1clenta,_ •• 2, p. 2?8.) 

IA 18J), th• Sena'• rttquested l'r••14ent J~ckaon to c-.lc«t• 

to ttu1t · bo47 a copy or a J>•i'•J' t-•rport1D1 to ha•• be"1 read \7 h1• 

to the h••d• or t.h• •xffu·ti•• departa.nt•, datd S.p,•'t·•r 181 183' 

r•lat.10.I lo th• reaowal ot th• d•r-osit!J o( th• ;:ublie aon•:r tr• iba 

Bank Of iJle tJai '.'";.ed !tat••• ·rrett1clen' .JACK80ft deCl iftade (8•• 

Jtleharcb"n• •••••I•• and Pa;et"I o't t}ie P~•siclenta, Ye) 1 i>• ,6.) 

Ia 1113,, the Senate paasect a r••olut1on req\te1tin1 Pr••ld•nt 

JaekNll to .-.un1e.t•t4' cop1&a of the eluu-1••• 1t fillYt Wh!oh •1rns 

b&ve been u.d• to n1• aga.lnat thit ott1e1al Oe>nt11.1ot ot 01Clet"tn Pita. 

la\• .... •ror 1enef'al aouth ot th• State of' Tann••• .. , Wh1oh cau..i 

bl• r•aoYal tl'o• eftlo•. Ia l"epl7 PP••14ent JACk90ll a1ain declined '° .. ply.. (a .. ftlehaPCtson, l••••t•• and PHpera or th• pr.-,•i••'• 

•• ,, ,,. 1,2, 1.)J.) . 

!Id.a d••eNt1oa in th• execu,1•• braneh h"'• been uah•ld a.n4 

r••p .. te4 1'J. U.. JW11c1ar,-. ?b• court• llhY• r•p•t•t•cU7 beld that 

UM,.wll.1.no' •M e•naot rtttt•ln tn• ex.,..ti•• to prodM• •••h 

papara trh• 1D the OPlftlOD Of the 4X•ftU.,1Y• 'heir prod1let10D la 

eont••IT to 'he pabltc 1sitet"eats. The eourl• h!jW'e alM held ttvit 

'h• qu;e•t1oa •~ietn•r the ;;l'odaetion ot th• paper• WOtllC M acatnet .._. pa\tllo 1n\•r••\ 1• one tor th• •ueut,1•• anct not. tor tn•·ecurta 

to datendne. Marbury Y. 8a411•on, 1 cranoh 137, 1.69; !otten .,. Uftii .. State•, 92 U. I. lO'J Kll'bourn Ye Thoap•on, 10)1 tr. s. 1611, J.;u; . 

Yo1•1 "• Oruaa, 110 u.1. "JllJ In r• .q oa:rl•• and Jatler, 158 u.s. 5.~2, 

Bone Ye COll1ngore, 177 U.~. 4'9J In r• !tlttaen, 70 /'reC. 699J In 

n t .. bertae. 124 Peel. 446J Ia re Yalenela <!on4.e11ettt.t '. 111lk co., ;:40 . Ped. JlO; Inrod •• lloaa,'.278 PM. 12,J An•t•111 Y. "81, ... Stat••· 

296 .rect;. 946; Grat Y. P•tland, 2 Serceant • Rawl•'• (P a), 2,, 29J 

Th•P•on·•· a.man Valley. R. co.,. 22 tr. J. lquit1 111, 1t'orth1!11ton 

•• Se't1bner1 109 I••-"• 4''7J Appeal.., ot Hartranft, S' Pa. "''• 445; 2 ~Pr Tri•11, -;-,1.-s,61, ••• also 1..S Op. A.G. J26 • 

..... 
ff'= T - -

k- I 

~ 

,_..... r c;-:: l 

REF ID:A40069 ------------m 

~ --

In W111'-ourn "• Thom.,>aon, SU?ra., the t.ourt. aaid1 

~ 

w ~ ...... _..._1 ~-_._ .. ~..:'" ~ .. ....,. "-

, -- - .p:-....... -_ .o..ir...~ 

•It is b•li Ye~ to be one or th• chi~r ••r1ta or the .iaeric\n 

••atem ot written constitutional 1£•1 thai all the po~era intruate~~ to govarn. ent, ""P\et'1ar f;t• te or nation~l, are d1videel into the thr ~-_ 

iirt.nd de~artme~ts, t~e •~•cut1ve 1 tne :eg1slat1ve, and the judicta ~­

!nat the r..uiet!ons ·~pro~r1ate to •~eh of these ~r~nchaa of 1ov•rnaeft"t shall be •~sted 1n n separate bodj or public servant.a, and th•l-r. 

the _;er.!"ect.ion ot tl48 s)'at.e- re~u1re5 th~ .. ~ th• lines lrl1ch separat9-_,.,.._ and d~vide t 1esa da~artments ahnll be bra~dly and clearly dar1ned. _.:_ •t 1, alao es1tt.,t1a.l to t.he auccesatul working of' this s7atec. th:it ~.:-

-\he : •rsc:ns in trus tec.1 ·-1th power in any one of these br::..nches ahr:.ll 

aot be .;endtted to encroach uron the 10--1er1 conticted ·o tho othera;~ 

'but th4t li1ACh. •ll~ll by th• law ot its ere t1on be limited to the :--=_ ~lae ot the roweT• a~propriate to its own d~partm.ent and no other. 

iiiiE- - =t - ~ 

7'"" - I ("" - <""~ 

- , • • * • •• had b~tte• at the outat rt rt::cognir.o the t .. ct, t'111.t :::-._ Ifie exeeut1ve 4e~art.mant is a coordinate br.:a.nch or the Oovernt:J•~t, 

With po er to Judie what ahould or ahoulct not be done, withi"l its -... 

!E- I ..,._ \· 

-

I==--

- on «•.> rtaent1 and what ot 11\s O"m doings And comz:..unic~ tions ahould ~­

~"'ihould not b• ke.-t aacret, and. thnt •1th it, in the exerc1ae ot ; these con•titutio~Al power1, th• courts have no more r11ht to inter- ~ 

ltJre. tti•n h~s the ei:ecu.tiv.,, under like candi tiona, to intartero }: -*Ith tla.e courta." ~ ~· 

.a.-

.... _ lb• 1ntor• tion hereinYolved •~& coll•c~ed, and 1• c!lietly v1alu-.: 

L.- - ~' •'b!e1 tor \lse by tr..e executiYe t.raneh ot the Govcrni ent in the ex.e- "' 

F-=- "11ll,eq or t.he l,l.,s. It c n be of' little, 1.!' any .,, lue 1n connecticn - · 1 filn the rral. 1ng or leg1sl3t1on or the ... er.!ora .nee or any other con- -

.. 

.. - e. 

~ •t1tut1on~l dut; a~ the Congre1a. 7 • do not un4e~t k• to investigate •trl\e1 •& to th-.1r ju•t1!"1c .t!on or the laclc or it, but Ci"lnfine 

t ~v~~t11~~1on to al:e4~d violations or lAw, including or course Ii-~ 'f'!ola·ion o! st :ut~s 4a•11ned to su;press aubveraive •ct1Y1ty, ana 

- ; ener 1Qtell1,ence ~~ executive ~011e-. Certai"'~' the ~- ev Which wou~ nacesatr117 tlow rros its un imely publ1c~t1on sou"ld !11' ..:>utwa1gb any u-oss1bl• aood. 

~ ~ l am net unt.-1.ndful or ~our cond1t1on-l au11est1on th\t your g.oup_el will keep thi• 1nt"ora .. ~1on •inv1ol1tte until such time .a• the i:oUitt.~e det•ruaines 1ts dis,.oe1t1on.," I h-·'1'• n~ dcul'.t that this ,1~dC• •Qu!d b.a ~e t an~ th~t you would ~•1Ch every ccns1der t1on bator~ 11-..k!na •ny ~•tter ublic. Untortun~tely, ho~ever, a policy ~ot b• medo ane because or a~sonal contiddr.Ce or the Attorney Gtmttr~l 1n the 1nt.1::1r1 ty lllld ccoc: r.,1 th or a particu1r eoW!l! ttee 

...s_h11.1rma.n. •e cannot be ut i·" the .osition at d1serim1n.~ tin& 

-l!Jot•een co:nm.lttee:; or or u.ttemJ'ting to juc11e \~et een th.om, nnd their 

1nd1v1dual ae:;ters, each or whom h·s access to 1nforaaL1on once 1 placed in tne hands of the eomm!tt~o. 
\. 

REF ID:A40069 

..... 

or course~ where the ~uhlic interest has see~ed to justiry it, 

1nt'orm::,t1on .. ,s to pPrtic\ll:.-r situ_,tions ha.s been supplied to con- gress1on~l com.~ittees by me and by formor Attorneys General. For 

exem ... 1,,, I h:\VC taken the :position tli1:&t commit.tees called UPC>ll to 

pass on the confirmation of persons recommended !or a.r.pointmen.t by 

tho i:.ttorney Oener.J.l would be a.f.fcrded confidential access to any 1IJ,for~~t1on th.t we h~ve--b~c~use no c • ..nd1dnte•s name is submitted 

nthout his !aloWledge and the Depdrtment does not intend to submit 

the nnme or any person whose entire hi~tory will not stand light. 

By way or turtl1i.er 11lustrc1.tion, I may mention th"l.t i>ertJ.nent information would be supplied 1n 1m.~eachment proceedinge, usually instituted at the sugeest1on ot the Depc.t.rtment and for,the good or the 

administration of 3ust1ce. 

It is for the rePson g1ven tnat I ree1 it my duty to c!ecline 

your re .. uest, 'hel1ev1ng tiw.t 1n them you will :rind just1f1c .... t1on 

tor my refusal. 

Bespecttully. 

ROBERT H. J>.CXBOK