Evening star., 1948-08-29

n Witt. Lee Pressman.
eight former Federal officials
'ere leaders in a prewar "elite"
p engaged in infiltration in
carefully selected Communist agents
and their sympathizers into key
positions of Government, and to
break up all Communist espionage
conspiracies and activities prevail
ing at this time These situations
should command and receive the
most diligent attention of this COM
mittee, of the Attorney Generals s
Office and the grand jury proceed
ings under his authority, and of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
They should proceed without par
tisanship and without prejudice. 1t
would be greatly in the public in
terest if they could receive the sup
port of the White House rather than
to be obstructed by it. This COM
mittee believes the eradication of
espionage from the Federal Govern
ment should command the same CO.
operation between the White House
and the Congress and between the
two major American political parties
as has been utilized in the formation
and augmentation of our biparti-
san foreign policy.
Perjury Charges Studied.
3. AS evidence of this committees
sincerity in desiring to cooperate
fully with the executive agencies in
the ferreting out of all disloyal and
un-Amerlcan practices in Govern
ment during our committees ex-
istence. we have opened our files to
the security officers ad loyalty board
representatives of the executive de-
partments. This year alone these
representatives of the executive de-
partments have paid over $4,000 Of
fetal visits to our file rooms. They
have been accorded full co-opera-
ton. Contrariwise, under the Pres
ident's executive order, the files and
records of the executive departments
on all matters of loyalty and secur-
ity have been firmly closed, not only
to our committee but to all commit
tees of Congress and to the general
public. We hold that this is an un-
wholesome, an unwise, and an un-
safe situation.
4. Since the committee has not
nm, ,o1otoJ ite ipvocfiootioy, II ic mt
prepared at this time to forward to
the Attorney General specific
charges of perjury. However, we
have made available to the United
States Attorney complete tran
script of the hearing in this case
and shall continue to keep him sup
piled with the full text. The COM
mittee is not a prosecuting body !;
that responsibility rests with the De-
partment of Justice and not this
committee.
5. Investigations and hearings
thus far completed offer convincing
and compelling reasons why new
Legislation is necessary to safeguard
this free Republic against the new
and clever conspiratorial tactics de-
veloped by Communists to promote
and conceal their espionage activi-
ties and their disloyal purposes.
Among the dangers which must be
met by new legislation are at least
the following, on the basis of exist
ing evidence; continuing investiga-
tions may develop the need for yet
additional legislative act on
tA) Communists must be required
by law to register so that the present
underground activities of the party
will be subject to at least this addi-
tional weapon of exposure and detec-
ton. This was feature of H. r
1852. approved by this committee
this year and overwhelming passed
by the House on May 10.
(B) Communists should be denied
by law the privilege of employment
by the Federal Government, with
adequate penalties on both those
seeking employment as Communists
and those knowingly giving ap.
pointive positions to Communists
This also was feature of H. r. 5852
(C) Passports should be denied
American Communists who utilize
these passports to further their con.
spiratorial plots against our Ameri.
can freedoms as they confer with
their coconspirators abroad. This
too, was feature of H. r. 5S52.
Cd Legislation should be adopted
making it more difficult for un
limited numbers of foreign Com
munists to enter the United State
and making it easier for this Gov
ernment to deport or imprison Com
munist emissaries who utilize thei
entrance into the United States t,
attack or undermine our American
institutions.
Urges Stronger Espionage Law.
! (E) The espionage laws of tn,
United States should be amended O
frightened so as to provide appro
pirate penalties for Government of
flcias who, without authority, re,
lay secret and significat informa
tion affecting our national securit,
to the representatives of any foreign
power. friend or enemy, peacetim
or war.
tFD Legislation should be adopte,
making it impossible for the execu
tive branch of the Government t,
deny to the Legislative branch o
the Government necessary informa
ton dealing with the loyalty of EN-
ployes of the Federal Government
&c, All of the provisions of H. r
1882 should be adopted at the mex
session of Congress, with certain
amendments herein suggested, to
gether with other definitive Ian
guage and provisions enabling it +
cope with some aspects to Com
munist activities. evasions, an
ta rticc ubirh tho n,,rropf i,uoe$;