Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-17
Only the Communists Benefit


The public has cause for real anxiety
over the schism which has developed be-
tween the executive and legislative
branches Of the Government in regard to
loyalty investigations. Here is one field
of activity in which both branches should
be working together in the closest spirit
OF cooperation and good viii. Instead,
the country is being treated to a disturb
ing dispute that threatens to benefit no
body but the Communists and their stooges
under investigation.
Attorney General Clark, "after consulta-
ton with the Office OF the President has
reiterated in a letter to- the Ferguson
committee his refusal to supply even
routine administrative information in the
Remington case. His stated excuse is that
this case involves allegations of espionage
on behalf of foreign power" ian asser-
ton which is not easily reconciled with
President Humans cries of "red herring"),
and that any disclosures concerning ad-
ministrative handling of the matter would
be "of very great value to any unfriendly
foreign nation" 1t is hard to understand,
however, how the specific data requested
by Senator Ferguson could be of any pos
sible advantage to Russia or any other
country. AS The Star has stressed before,
the committee was not asking for names,
dates and places involved in alleged
espionage incidents, or for investigative
techniques. or for identity of confidential
informants. 1t asked the Attorney Gen.
eral only for enlightenment on why Mr..
Remington, while under investigation by
the FBI, was retained in the Government
service and promoted from one sensitive"
job to another. If such information is of
interest to the Communists, they have long
since benefited by it-for Mr.. Remingtons
extraordinary ability to stay in the Federal
service has been no secret to them for
several years.
1t is extremely regrettable that the
President and the Attorney General have
seen fit to adopt an aloof, almost belliger-
ent, attitude toward the congressional in
veStigations into the alarming story told
by Miss Bentley. Their stand is in marked
contrast to that of Senator Ferguson in
his letter to Mr.. Clark: IF there are
any details about our request which you
feel should not be complied with, if you
will let us know, we feel sure we can alter
it in such way that we win meet your
demands and still provide enough infor-
nation to continue our inquiry beneficially
pursuant to our sworn duty under the law"
But the administration evidently has de-
cided to close the door tight on release of
any information whatever that might
tend to fix the blame for departmental
handling of the Remington case or that
might disclose weaknesses in the loyalty
screening procedures. Mr.. Clark even i'm
plies that the Bentley hearings in some
way have imperiled the Governments
chances of obtaining indictments in the
spy case-although Senator Ferguson says
that the group was assured in advance by
Justice officials that the hearings would
not interfere with the prosecution. (The
grand jury in New York presumably heard
the same testimony long ago, but failed
to indict)
The absurd extremes to which this un-
necessary breach between the executive
establishment and Congress could go are
indicated by Senator Wiley's suggestion
that Congress create an "FBI" of its own
to investigate subversive activities. The
prospect of two sets of rival Government
agents conducting simultaneous inquiries
and maybe racing to grab evidence ahead
of each other-is too startling and silly to
contemplate. There is no need for more
than one FBI-the tried and tested original
one. But there is urgent need for whole
hearted cooperation between the execu-
tive and legislative agencies in the joint
task of Kidding the Government of any
fifth-column elements. Is such co-opera-
ton too much to ask in campaign year,
in the light of Canada's sad experience
with Communist infiltration and in view
of what we know about efforts toward
similar inflltration right here in Wash
ington?