Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-31
Ex-TreosuryAi Aide
Was Author of
Morgenthou Plan
By Miriom Ottenberq

WHO'D 4Il1LdOOC1I ASllClNyy o~AA
styled former Communist Party
espionage agent, today named
Harry Dexter White, former
Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury, as one of the Government
officials from whom she got
information to be relayed to
Russia.
Lauchlin Currie, administrative
Roosevelt was another name she
included in the list she gave the
House Un-American Activities
Committee at an open session
today.
BY giving names of those giving
her information of value to Russia,
Miss Bentley picked up where she
left off yesterday when she testi-
fed before q Senate investigating |
committee headed by Senator
Ferguson.
Grand Jury Probe Sought.
Before Miss Bentley started nam
ing names, Chairman Thomas OF
the House group, announced that
on the basis of the evidence forth
coming from her previous commit
tee findings, his committee would |
formally request the converting OF
a special grand jury here lin order
to give special attention to the |
matter of espionage in the
Government"
Mr.. White, S., foromer economic
professor, won prominence in the
peace plan by authoring not only
the abandoned "Morgenthau Plan"
for Germany but in large measure
writing the world financial struc-
lures growing out of the Breton
Woods conference of 1914. 4
Mr.. White became Secretary Nor
genthau's assistant in 1945, ii years
after he went to the Treasury De-
partment to head special survey.
Later he became Director of None
tary Research, title created for
him.
Managed Sterilization Fund. !:
In 194l he took over manage t
ment of the Treasury's $4,000 600
600 sterilization fund and repre-
sented the department at committee
meetings of the Economic Defense |
Board. He also sat on the board of
trustees of the Export Import Bank.
The ''Morgenthau Plan" for post /
war Germany called for prevention /
of German amendment and CONVEX
sion of highly industrial people to
q strictly agarian economy.
Miss Bentley testified she started
contracting groups of Government
employees in July, l94l. She said
one group was headed by N. Gregory
Silvermaster. whom she identified as
member of the Communist Party .
and an agent of the Russian secret .
police.
Mr.. Silvermaster, the committee
was told by Committee Investigator |
Robert STRIPPING, served with the
Farm Security Administration and
the Board of Economic Welfare.
and resigned last year from the War
Assets Administration when his |
salary was cut from $4,000 to $4,000
Later, Mr.. STRIPPING told the COM
mittee, that the Civil Service Com
mission had voluminous file on
Silvermaster and his alleged Com
munist Affiliations.
Referred to Currie.
The Civil Service Commission.
Mr.. STRIPPING added. was referred to
Mr.. Currie ito get the true facts"
After the commission had gone to
Mr. Currie. Silvermaster remained
in Government employ, Mr.. Strip
ling said.
Il can definitely say that it was
through Currie's influence that
Silvermaster was allowed to remain
IN the Government, interjected
Miss Bentley.
Miss Bentley told the committee
she did not believe Currie was a
Communist. She said, however, that !
he had given inside information
on Government policy and furnished |
inside information on this Govern
ment's attitude toward China and
other governments
"Currie gave lis information that
this Government was on the verge
Of breaking the Russian code the
Vassar graduate told the committee. |
Information Relayed.
Miss Bentley testified before Sem
ator Ferguson's group yesterday |
that one of her contacts worked in |
the executive Offices of the Presi- /
dent. but she did not name him at
that time.
Mr.. Currie. native of Nova !
Scotia, was one of President Roose-
velt's top advisers during World
War II. He is now 48 years old.
Among the top assignments
handed the former Harvard eco
nomics professor by the late Presi-
dent were two flying trips to China
in 1941 and 1912. AS President
Roosevelt's personal envoy to
Chang Kai-shek, Mr.. Currie was
assigned to determine the extent |
of lend-lease aid the United States
should send to the Chinese.
Held Top Agency Jobs.
He was one of the first college
professors brought to Washington
by President Roosevelt when the
New Deal became the administra-
tons weapon for breaking the de-
preston. During his governmental
service in Washington Mr.. Currie
also held top jobs in the Treasury
Department. the Federal Reserve
Board, the Treasury Department.
and the ONCE of Economic Warfare.
Now in business for himself in
New York City, Mr., Currie is re-
7See BENTLEY. Page A-3J