Evening star., 1948-03-11
President May Order
Ban on Subpoenas for
Loyalty Board Files


partment Loyalty Board records
brought a new cross fire of
charges today involving DIR. Ed
ward u. Condor.
Meanwhile, the battle mounted
between the executive and legisla-
tive branches of the Government
Demands that congressional COM
mittees be given access to the 10y
atty files led to a report that Presi-
dent Truman may issue a counter
order to refuse such requests, even
when backed with a subpoena.
The House Un-American Activities
Subcommittee, which set off the
conflict, was itself accused of un-
American action by Secretary of
Commerce Hartman. The cabinet
officer issued a formal statement
last night attacking the groups
investigation of DR.. Condor, direc-
tor of the Bureau OF Standards.
THE subcommittee action is, in
my opinion. un-American," Harri-
man said:
"It summoned leaders of my staff
to secret sessions. It has published
its Interpretation of their testimony
The press and public were excluded
and could not form an independent
opinion. From my knowledge of the
situation, I can say that the sub
committees action Is misleading.
1T is interesting to note that
the subcommittee now appears not
to dissent from the Commerce De-
partment Loyalty Boards finding
that DR.. Condor is a loyal Ameri-
can. There was complete agree
ment on this finding by members
of the Loyalty Board before (Harri-
man underscored 'beforeD issuance
of the subcommittee report of
March l."
At his Allendale, N. J., home,
where he is recuperating from a
gastric ailment, Representative
Thomas, Republican, of New Jer-
sey, chairman OF the House COM
mittee, said he had mo comment
at this time" on Mr.. Harriman's
statement. He added that the COM
mittee would resume public hear
ings in two or three weeks and he
would have something to say then.
MIR. Hartman referred to a re-
port which charged that DR..
Condor had associated with alleged
Soviet spies. The report called
him "one of the weakest links" in
the Nations atomic security.
Chairman Nixon of the subcom-
mittee had charged, in a statement
issued q few hours before that of
Mr.. Hartman, that this unani-
nous report was in fact not made
unanimous and filed with the Sec
retary of Commerce until March /,
after the Subcommittee on Un-
American Activities had released
its report on DR.. Condon."
He charged that the Commerce
Department was lax in investigating
DR.. Condon's loyalty. Summarizing
two days Of secret questioning of
seven department witnesses, Mr..
Nixon said the Loyalty Board
studied the case for 10 months but
heard only one witness-Dr. Condor
himself.
The showdown over Loyalty Board
records appeared to rest with At
torney General Clark. A Govern
ment official reported privately that
Mr.. Clark may be asked to rule on a
general directive to all executive
departments ordering them to re-
fuse the confidential data to con-
gressional committees. +-s~
The official who reported that the
order is being drawn said it has
been discussed with the chief of
several agencies. but that its is
suance is being held up by the tenn
porary absence Of the Attorney
General.
The blanket order, it was reported,
would lay down, an administration
policy of keeping confidential the
loyalty inquiry reports on Federal
employees which are now being COM
piled by departmental boards.