Evening star., 1947-07-03
Marshall SET 10 Fire
Any One # Evidence
Shows Dis|oya|ty
By Gornett D. Horner

secretary OF SCdCe MarSQdll
will fire any State Department
employe against whom there is
enough evidence to create a de-
cided suspicion of disloyalty
without waiting for definite
proof.
He asserted this policy at a news
conference late yesterday when he
disclosed that there was evidence
some Of the 10 persons summarily
discharged last week had been keep
ing company indirectly with repre-
sentatives of foreign powers.
He Gid not elaborate on the ref
erence to foreign agents and, after
answering several other questions,
shut of discussion by saying he
did not want to talk any more about
the disagreeable subject.
Denies Any witch Hunt"
In formal statement, Gen. Mar
shall said he is taking steps to as
sure himself of the loyalty of all
department personnel through a
check by the Federal Bureau of
lIlVcSClkdtlOil. nc cdlu 1lC 10 AlOV
engaged in a witch-hunt."
Il will not permit unfounded
charges based on prejudice to force
our hand" he declared. II mean to
see that the rights of the personnel,
as well as the interests of the Gov
ernment are secured"
He told questioners, however, that
full protection of an accused en-
ploye's interests is difficult because
the Governments interests must
come first in any suspicion of dis
loyalty.
The United States cannot afford
he added, to weigh the evidence on
any ordinary basis in such cases in
view of all the secret documentary
information on foreign policy ham
died by State Department employees
Knew Why of Dismissal.
Gen. Marshall said he believed
that all of the 10 employees fired last
week knew why they were dismissed.
He then was asked if there was
any evidence that some of those
fired had kept company with repre-
sentatives of foreign powers.
Not directly, but indirectly, he
replied.
The State Department has refused
TO disclose the names of any of the
10 fired employees. Gen. Marshall
said he thought it would be wrong
to cruelty the individuals in view Of
the inconclusive evidence on which
his action had to be based.
Asked If measures taken for pro-
lection of the rights OF accused en-
ployes included a hearing or other
means to answer the charges against
them, Gen. Marshall pointed out
that special authority for summary
action given him by Congress did not
require formal hearings to be held.
Ready to Hear individuals.
He added. however. that he GER
tainly would be ready to hear in
dividuals concerned so far as op-
portunity permitted. He said no re-
quest to be heard had come to him.
Gen. Marshall hesitated to answer
q question about what opportunity
was given accused employees to
answer charges against them, ex-
planning he was not quite clear him
self on what the machinery Is.
Other officials said later that the
10 persons fired last week are being
given opportunity to appear before
tkree-member panel, including two
State Department officials not pre-
viously connected with security in
vestigations. Names of the panel
members are secret.
The fired employees are permitted
to. make a statement before this
panel, which will direct further in
vestigation If it deems such neces-
sary.
Officials said the very nature of
the charges in some cases made it
impossible to reveal full particulars
of the allegations to the accused
persons, since this might disclose
secret sources of information or
provided a possible tip-off to inves-
legations involving other persons. He
said the accused are told only in a
general way what the charges
against them are
Most of those who were fired last
week, he added. had wind of what
was coming when they were ques-
toned very closely by Investigators,
but none of them were given any
advance warning of their summary
disn1issalS.