Evening star., 1948-08-16
Ferguson Spokesman
Denies Spy Hearings
Hdmpered Red Probe

NSO IVUS
A spokesman for the Ferguson
Senate subcommittee investigat-
ing Communism in the Gov
ernment today branded as "un-
justified" Attorney General
Clark's contention that the COM
mittee spy hearings had handi-
capped a Federal investigation
into Communist activities.
William P. Rogers, chief counsel
of the subcommittee, said he had
notified the Justice Department in
advance of every important step
planned by the Ferguson group. He
said he had asked if the hearings
planned by the subcommittee would
in any way interfere in the investi-
cation or prosecution program of the
Justice Department.
We were assuered by assistants
to the Attorney General" Mr. Rogers
said that our hearings would not
interfere with the prosecution.
Refuses Loyalty Data Again.
Mr.. Clark made his charge in a
letter turning down new request
bv Senator Ferguson, Republican,
of Michigan, for loyalty data on
William w. Remington, suspended
Commerce Department official. In
the letter the Attorney General
wrote:
Just how much damage to these
efforts to arrive at sound basis for
prosecution has been done by the
open hearings which have been con-
Quoted is difficult to say
Miss Elizabeth T. Bentley has
told congressional Investigators that
Mr., Remington gave her secret in
formation during the war which she
handed to Soviet agents. Mr.. Rem
ington has denied it.
Senator Ferguson wanted to know
whether Government agencies ig-
nored FBI warnings when, he said,
Mr.. Remington has transferred to
three different confidential posi-
tionS.
Senator Ferguson said it would be
all right to delete names of in
formants, sources of information
and investigative techniques in
supplying the Remington data.
This. he said, would not harm the
loyalty program.
In his reply the Attorney Cen
eral said the matter had been taken
up with the White House and that
Senator Ferguson's request must
be respectfully declined"
Grand Jury Still Serving.
A New York Federal grand jury,
which indicted top officials of the
Communist Party in this country,
lis still serving" Mr.. Clark wrote
Senator Ferguson. He added:
4 wish to point out that the
case here presented is not only one
in which the loyalty of an employe
of the United States has been ques-
toned, but one in which there were
allegations of espionage on behalf
of a foreign power
II am sure that you will realize
that information relative to the pro-
cedure under which cases of alleged
espionage within the Government
are handled would be of very great
value to any unfriendly foreign
nation"
Senator Ferguson, it was learned,
plans to reply soon to Mr.. Clark's
letter. The Senator was out OF town
today.
Committee Prepares Report.
Senator Ferguson's committee
meanwhile prepared for issuance
within the next two weeks report
setting out what it regards as short
comings in the Government loyalty
program.
The report will be preliminary
one, according to committee sources
who asked not to be named. The
committee is expected to go more
fully into the whole loyalty question
when it reopens hearings probably
about d-September.
Senator Ferguson, in speech at
the close of the special session of
Congress August 7, spoke of i'm
parchment" of the President and as
sailed him on the ground he lowered
IAN iron curtain" between Congress
and the public business in refusing
data to Senator Fergusons sub
committee.