Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-13
Text of Statement to Committee by LouchIin Cwrie

matters OF the type mentioned with
any of the persons mentioned In
fact, l never discussed these matters
with any one other than officials of
the Government officially charged
with responsibility in connection
with China. The persons mentioned
above, of course, did not fall within
this category.
Interest in China.
I have, OF course, talked with a
great many people about China. I
do not recall any such conversations
with Silverman or Silvermaster, but
it is not impossible that the subject
of China was discussed in gather
ings at which one of them might
have been present. Many persons
knew of my special interest in China.
1t was frequently mentioned in the
newspapers. 1t was generally known
that knew the generalissimo, Nine.
Chang Kai-shek and members of
the Chinese government. I admired
the Chinese and was deeply sympa-
thetic with their struggle against
Japanese aggression and with their
Sufferings as result of it.
1t was my official duty to assist
the Chinese government in all ways
possible and compatible with our
own military effort. Consequently,
upon innumerable occasions people
raised with me the subject of China,
and I talked about the subject as
freely as was compatible with my
official responsibilities. I did this
privately and with representatives
of the press, but I wish to stress
again that 1 was at all times con-
scious of the fact that my words had
to be carefully considered, both from
the point of view of not disclosing
what should be kept secret and from
the point of view that what I said
might be twisted and given an Off
cial character. This is a position
which is familiar to all Government
officials and is, OF course, not I'M
known to members of this commit
tee.
Says Charges Unprecedented.
In conclusion may I state that
have spent IL years serving the
Government of the United States in
positions of considerable RESPONSE
bility and clothed with a most con-
f1dential character, in the Treasury,
in the Federal Reserve Board, in the
White House. in the Foreign Eco
nomic Administration, and on loan
to the State Department. During
this time mass of the most con-
f1dential information went across
my desk and through my hands.
Never until the present statement
OF Miss Bentley have I been Sus-
pected or accused of betraying any
of it despite the publicity that sur
rounds the White House. Now I am
accused Of disclosing one matter
about which had no information of
any sort whatever and of disclosing
what is frequently described as in
side information" about China, al
though no one has said, and l am
sure no one can say, what its Spe-
ciflc content was.
l have looked back upon my II
years OF service to the Government
OF the United States as a privilege
and as a duty to which I gave all
that I had. I realized, of course,
that public service is a rough and
tumble affair in which one cannot
be thin-skinned about the give and
take OF public controversy. But
charges which involve one in the
activities of an alleged espionage
ring are another matter. 1, there
fore, invite the most searching ex-
animation by the committee and re-
specially request that it find, as /
know that it will, that these charges
are wholly untrue. .