The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-20
As Pegler Sees 1t
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER
DI WT01O0OOH ~ =
Copyright, 1947, by King Features Syndicat

publish American books and some of those
who control the book reviews which praise
or almost suppress books have fallen into
questionable habits.
Specifically, l deal with the books of the
mar known as John Roy Carlson who was
born Derounian and used many false names.
His first book, "Under Cover" had a run Of
about zoo, 600 copies and was a best seller,
particularly among the gullible young men in
the fighting services. He got a tremendous
favorable propaganda both in book reviews
and on the radio which depicted him as a
heroic fellow. Actually, he confessed that he
was fun OF fears when he went to call on
former Senator Bob Reynolds, Of North Caro-
lima. Waiting to see Reynolds in his office,
Carlson died a thousand deaths at the hands
OF imaginary gocns who never showed up.
The second book, put out last fall and called
The Plotters," received similar acclaim. BY
this time, however, the author had attracted
skeptical attention and the ballyhoo was fur
ther offset by the dictum OF Judge John P.
Barnes, of the U. S. District Court, in Chica-
go, that he was a liar, incredible even under
oath.
The idea that a publisher or the editors Of
a book review section of a newspaper should
clear an author through secret agencies of
the national government is repugnant to the
concept CT freedom Of the press.
Elliott MacRae, of E. P. Dutton and Co.,
} AhA$'' " ~ ASIh s4S - VI O4AC
Cover" and "The Plotters,' said Dutton sent
proofs of Under Cover to the Department
OF Justice for inspection before publication.
He said also that, with three listeners on the
phone for confederation, Dutton asked the
departments opinion of Carlson. He said
that they spoke very highly Of Carlson.
Pressed to name the individual who gave
Carlson this good report. he said the person
was O. John Royce. at various times an as
sistant and a special assistant to the Attorney
General. Royce left the department last year
after & noisy public row with Attorney Cen
eral Tom Clark. He Is very favorably men
toned in both, books. As MacRae certainly
knew, Rogge's political views are like Carl
sons. As MacRae also knows. this is called
log-roliing and back-Scratching in the book
trade.
The weekly book review OF the New York
Herald Tribune assigned 1.-THE Plotters'' to
Arthur NJ. Schlesinger, Jr., for review. His
Endorsement showed a strong disposition to-
ward Carlson's political ideas, which have
been challenged as deficient in nationalistic
patriotism. Employing the same assumptions
that Carlson helped himself to, Schlesinger
used the medium of his book review not
merely TO indorse Carlson's ideas, but to i'm
pugn individual Americans of unblemished
reputation.
Miss Lula Teetor Kennedy. of New York,
disagreed with Schlesinger's opinions and
wrote to the Herald Tribune's weekly book
review. In reply, she received a letter, signed
"1rlta Van Doren," the editor Of this %influen-
tial section, which said: 1--WE have taken some
trouble to investigate Mr.. Carlson's career
and have found his claims substantiated at
every point by the State Department and the
1 with whom he worked at considerable
danger to himself in the interest of his coun-
try s welfare"
The only actual physical encounter that has
L@oo - o~{ =. I Ia
~fistfigLt with persons unknown in Brooklyn.
long after both books had been written. OF
this encounter, the Brooklyn Tablet, an intel
lectual. vigorous weekly organ of the Catho-
lie diocese, reported on information and be-
lief that Carlson had lost a fight while shad-
ow-boxing. At worst, he seems to have suf-
fered a slap in the face.
The F.B.I. is forbidden by law to give in
formation, whether favorable or unfavorable,
concerning any person or organization except
to legitimate official persons and auth
such as police officials and prosecuting agen-
cies.
wrote to Mrs. Van Doren on Feb. 8 and
April 3 and telegraphed her on May 4 re-
q~uesting an answer to the letters which in
formed her of this verboten and questioned
the propriety of such inquiry concerning au-
thors. After a long delay Mrs. Van Doren
replied but withheld permission to quote her.
If The reply had materially altered the prem
ises of this discussion, the discussion would
not have been written.
l also wrote j. Edgar Hoover reminding
him that both he and Justice Robert Jack
son, when he was Attorney General, had told
me that the law absolutely forbade this.
This is Hoover's reply, dated April Is:
John Roy Carlson was utilized as an infor-
mant at the specific request of a special as
sistant to the Attorney General from July Is,
1912, to October II, 1912. His services were
then dispensed with as he was contributing
little OF value. This has been his only con-
~nection with the Federal Bureau Of 1nvesti-
gation.
'"This bureau has not at any time substan-
tiated any claims made by him"
An informant is any person who reports
to the F.B.I. Or any other agency informa-
ton which he believes to be of public in
terest. Much of it is spiteful Switching and
repetition of gossip already discounted. A
great deal Of Carlson's material in "Under
Cover already had been published in routine
reports by the Dies Committee.
have not inquired whether the State De-
partmeut 'substantiated at every point" the
claims of Carlson. If it did, it had no bust
ness to. II it gave Carlson a good reputation.
it might also condemn a better writer and
| better citizen to dispraise or a silent boycott
by an adverse report to the Herald Tribune.
This is not legitimate business of any govern
ment agency. Up to the time that Mr.. Tru-
man became President, the State Department
was crawling with communists and the F.B.I.
once was called in to spy on the spies. 1t
has not yet been deloused, although President
Truman and General Marshall have publicly
announced they have been spraying the
woodwork.