Evening star., 1948-08-29
House Report Hits
Attorney Generals
Failure TO Act
LOMAKIN LEAVES U. S.. SAYS He
Will Take Post With U. N. P. AS.
fTert Of interim report on P. A-6.)
By Miriom Ottenbero

The House Committee on Un-
American Activities last night
accused the White House of "ob-
structive tactics as it called for
bipartisan support of a nine
point legislative program to
combat Communist espionage.
In a 15-page interim report on
its month-long inquiry into Com
munist spy activities here, the COM
mittee also:
Blamed the growth and power of
the Communist conspiracy in the
United States in large part on the
Attorney Generals failure to enforce
the laws "as vigorously as he should
Defended itself against charges
that its public hearings have injured
innocent persons.
Asserted it has every reason to
believe espionage rings still are
operating within the Government.
Withheld final conclusions in the
Hiss Chambers controversy. pending
further investigation, but expressed
the view that the verifiable testi-
mony of Whitaker Chambers has
stood up strongly" while Alger Hiss
testimony has been badly shaken" :"
Mr.. Chambers. repentant Commu-
mist, has accused Mr. Hiss, former
State Department official. of leader
ship in a prewar Communist under
ground and Mr.. Hiss has denied it.
The committee contended its in
vestigations and hearings so far
show the need for new legislation to
safeguard the country against the
new and clever conspiratorial tao
tics developed by Communists to
promote and conceal their espionage
activities and their disloyal pur-
poses"
1t recommended adoption of legis-
lation to:
/. Compel Communists to register
2. Deny Federal jobs to Commu
nists and punish Communists who
seek Government jobs as we'll as
officials who knowingly appoint
them.
3. Deny passports to American
Communists who want them to con-
fer with "coconspirators' abroad.
Would Tighten immigration.
4. Make it more difficult for un-
limited numbers of foreign Con1mu-
nists to enter this country and make
it easier for this country to i'm
prison or deport those who come
here to "attack or undermine our
American institutions
5. Provide appropriate punish
ment for Government officials who,
without authority. relay security in
forma ton to representatives of any
foreign power, friend or enemy in
peacetime or war.
g. Forbid the executive branch
of Government to deny Congress
necessary information on the 10y
atty of Federal employees.
7. Enable the committee to cope
with Communists who use the Fifth
Amendment to the Constitution as
"cover-all" to avoid answering
the committees questions. This
amendment permits witness TO
refuse to answer questions that
might incriminate or degrade him.
8. Increase the penalties for those
convicted of contempt of Congress.
Some Provisions in Mundt Bill.
g. Revoke the commission of any
officer in the armed forces and re-
move any Government employe who
refuses to state under oath whether
or not he is member of the Com
munist Party.
Some of these measures were
provided for in the committees -spon-
sored Mundt- Nixon bill which
passed the House in May, but died
in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The committee said it was not
vet prepared to send the Attorney
General specific charges of per-
jury" since it has not completed its
investigation. 1t pointed out. how
ever, that it is keeping the United
States Attorney supplied with a
record of all the testimony.
A large part of the report was de-
voted to explaining and justifying
the committees methods.
While declaring that the commit
tee Yields to no one in its earnest
desire to protect the innocent and to
expose the guilty" the report added
AT times. however, your commit
tee is confronted with the neces-
tSee PROBE, Page A-4D