Evening star., 1948-01-11
|krug Says Assistant
Spoke Only for Self
|0n Loyalty Inquiry

Secretary of Interior Krug said
yesterday that the controversial
change proposed for the loyalty
investigation program by Assistant
Secretary of Interior C. Girard
Davidson did not represent the de-
partment's official view.
Mr.. Krug, in a statement made
through the Interior Department S
public relations division, said the
proposal reflected Mr.. Davidson 8
personal views" and nothing else.
Mr.. Davidson's plan asked that
Interior have the right to. use its
own investigators to ferret out wit
nesses and evidence that the FBI
would not disclose because of secur-
ity reasons. Under Mr.. Davidson's s
proposal, the accused employees
would then have the right to con-
front and cross-examine their
accusers.
When Mr.. Davidson's plan was
disclosed In The Stars Federal
Spotlight" column on Wednesday, it
resulted In a wave of protest from
Government officials directly in
volved In the Federal loyalty investi-
cation program.
Protection of Sources Stressed.
Officials Of the FBI, the Civil
Service Commission and the Fed
eral Loyalty Board pointed out that
Mr.. Davidson's proposal, which was
made to the White House, was di-
rectly contrary to official loyalty
procedure.
In announcing its loyalty pro-
cedures several weeks ago, the Fed
eral Loyalty Review Board spe-
cffically stated that, after great
deliberation, it decided that accused
employees could not have the right
to confront and cross-examine their
accusers because the FBI had to
protect its sources. If the sources
were revealed, it would greatly
hamper the FBI's efficiency as an
investigative agency, it was said.
1T would wreck the whole loyalty
program" Civil Service Commits
sioner Arthur S. Flemming declared.
In explaining his stand yesterday,
Secretary Krug said the plan was
not that Of the departments and
that Mr.. Davidson was only ex-
pressing his personal views"
Says He Didn't See Letter.
Z The letter to the White House
was not sent with his approval,
Secretary Krug said. Furthermore,
Mr.. Krug said he had not seen the
letter.
4 An Interior spokesman said that
what had happened was that Mr..
Davidson had mentioned to the
Secretary that he was writing to
the White House suggesting changes
in the loyalty program and had
been told to 60 ahead. But Secre-
tary Krug did not know what the
contents were, it was said.
In his letter, Mr.. Davidson ex-
pressed the view that disloyal en-
ployes must not be allowed to re-
main In Government, but he said
accused employees civil rights were
endangered by not having the right
to- confront and cross-examine their
accusers.
In order that no misunderstand-
Ing should exist in the department
regarding the letter, Secretary Krug
Yesterday sent memorandum to
ais various bureau heads emphasiz-
lng that there were to be'no rhanges
Ih the departments loyalty pro-
cedures.
Board Would Have to Approve.
Should changes or reyisions be
deemed advisable by me or the
loyalty board Gin the department.
they will be issued as amendments
bo the existing order or as a new
order," Mr.. Krug's memo stated.
Approval of the Federal Loyalty
Review Board would be needed for
any changes in procedure, Interior
officials said. They said there
wasn't any present intention" to
seek changes in the loyalty pro-
,edures.
While denying that. the Davidson
was the official department
view, Secretary Krug expressed the
belief that Mr.. Davidson has
right to his personal views" The
Secretary did not say whether or
not he disapproved of the proposal.
The Davidson proposal probably
will be discussed by the department,
an Interior spokesman said, but
Ine axnrocsad thu haliof that M.,oth-