Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-23
Hebert doubts COP
Would Open Loyalty
Files if Elected
By Miriam Gutenberg


crat, of Louisiana forecast today
that the Republicans would not
handle the question Of releasing
loyalty files any differently from
the Democrats if Gov. Dewey be-
comes President.
Mr.. Hebert. a member OF the
House Committee on Un-American
Activities, made the prediction in
reporting that Gov. Dewey has not
replied to his demand to know what
the Republican nominee would do
about giving Government loyalty
files to congressional committees if
ne became President.
An outright supporter of Gov.
Thurmond, the States Rights pres1-
Dental nominee, MI. Hebert said he
wrote identical letters to Gov. Thur
mond and Gov. Dewey on Septem-
Der 10.
Says Dewey Didn't Reply.
Gov. Thurmond, he said, prompt
ly replied that if he became Pres
ident he would rescind President
Humans order to keep loyalty files
confidential and would most GER
tainly lend every possible assistance"
to congressional committees.
No reply, said Mr.. Hebert, has
been received from Gov. Dewey.
Mr.. Hebert added, I'VE know
where President Truman stands
In his letter, Mr. Hebert said he
wanted to know not only if the 10y
atty files would be released. but
also whether the would-be Presi-
dents would release the FBI report
to the President on Edward u.
Condor, director of the National
Bureau of Standards. DR.. Condor
has been described by the House
committee as one of the weakest
links in this Nations atomic Sc
curity. He has asked for hear
ing, but so far has not received it.
Mr.. Hebert said Gov. DeWey's
failure to reply to his letter indi-
Gated that the Republicans would
not handle the loyalty files any
differently than Mr.. Truman.
"All Conversation" He Says.
Gov. Dewey, he said, is making
the Republican approach to COM
munism a major issue in his cam
paign, yet he fails to say whether
or not he will cooperate" with con-
gressional efforts to ferret out Com
munist activities.
II, locor;Lod thu Dap,,bl;oo, Of
titude as AL conversation and no
action"
Mr.. Hebert reiterated his charge
made in a broadcast last night that
politics is playing large part in
congressional spy hunting activities.
In the broadcast he blamed both
Republicans and Democrats for the
political atmosphere of the whole
thing"
At the same time, however, he
said the committee has done
noble job"
Probe Progressing Nicely"
Mr.. Hebert indirectly criticized
the Justice Department by saying
lit is not the fault of the committee
that there have been no legal pro-
ceedings against any one so far" in
connection with the committees spy
hunt.
He reported that the committee
has found no evidence of espionage
at all since the war.
The committee. meanwhile. re-
ported it is progressing nicely in
its investigation of wartime atomic
espionage.
Several witnesses are still to be
heard, it was learned, before the
committee is ready to close its latest
case. One of them was scheduled
to fly here today from the West
Coast, but wired the committee he
couldn't make it.
A quorum of the full committee
is expected to be here tomorrow for
closed meeting at which a decision
may be made on whether to hold
public hearings or make a report on
the committees atomic espionage
case.