The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-12-10

ACiti}Ch &OiiilIldiiAot VIM ID
now a senior editor of Time
magazine, once more hits page
one of the nations press with
more startling statements and
the uncovering of secret micro
filmed documents which Mr..
Chambers, despite his desertion
from the ranks of the Bolos
10 years ago, still has in his
possession. During this time,
we have been told, ex-Bolo
Chambers confessed all to a
New York grand jury, the
secret service and the I'M
American affairs committee,
but conveniently forgot about
the secret documents. When
he did remember them last
week there was the usual melo-
drama, including a followed
out pumpkin on Chambers
Maryland farm in which the
microfilm of the documents
were hidden.
When the story of the sudden
return of Mr.. Chambers men,
DRY broke last week we won
dered at the time why none
of the wire services told US the,
reason it had taken him 10
years TO recall that he had the
documents in his possession.
OF course, during the time, Mr..
Chambers must have had
flashes of memory between
periods of mental blackouts,
because of the pumpkin angle.
We don't believe even a Mary
land pumpkin could withstand
the wear and tear of 10 years
exposure. From that we de-
duce that Mr.. Chambers am
nesia, Or blackout periods,
must have been in the nature
of a cycle so that during the
rational periods he could re-
member to hollow out a fresh
pumpkin.
However, I'll curiosity on
this angle was set at rest this
week when Mr.. Chambers came
up with his reason for with
holding microfilms of the stolen
documents for 10 years. The
explanation came about second
hand. William A. Wheeler, an
investigator for the un-Ameri-
can Committee was asked by
newspaper reporters in New
York why Chambers waited
until last week to disclose exist
ence of the microfilm.
We quote Agent Wheeler's
reply:
He's a quaker and didn't
want to hurt anybody"
In view of Mr.. Chambers
long association with the Com
munists as a member and a re-
ceiver of stolen documents, and
an embracer of the Communist
doctrine of world revolution,
we humbly submit that the re-
mark speaks for itself.
The latest revelations in the
Communist spy ring revelations
however, have taken a more
serious turn. Sumner Wells,
former under-secretary of state,
testified this week that the
stolen papers were important
and highly secret state docu-
ments. Mr.. Chambers must
have been aware of this fact
during the 10 year period that
he had them in his possession,
and during which time he had
deserted the Communist party
and reformed" to such an ex-
tent that he became an impor-
tant cog in the Luce empire,
a senior editor of Time. We
think Mr.. Chambers part in
the affair deserves more than
passing consideration from a
grand jury. The inquisitorial
light should not only be turned
on those he duplicates, but on
Chambers himself, and his rea-
o for Withholding these
documents during the entire
time that he, with Elizabeth
Bentley, were the stars in a
three-ring circus before the I'M
American committee with the
now-indicted j. Parnell Thomas
as ringmaster.
Above all, we believe that
the investigation should be
made by a federal grand jury.
The most recent revelations are
of such Importance that they
deserve a better fate than be-
ing headline fodder for the
un-American committee. The
Committee is not cloaked with
the authority of trial and pun
ishment. That, rightfully. be-
longs to our courts. The pre-
sent matter is of such import
ance to the American people
that it should be handled under
the due processes of our law
and our courts. and those
guilty, including Mr.. Chambers
if he is, punished in proportion
to their crime. Above all, the
American people should be told