Evening star., 1948-09-27
ReportWilIbare
Spy Admissions,
Prober Asserts
Committee to Decide
Today When to Make
Document Public
By Miriom Ottenbero

Some admissions" from one
of the principals in an atomic
espionage ring form the basis
of the forthcoming report of the
House Committee on Un-Ameri-
can Activities on efforts OF
Soviet directed spies to steal
atomic bomb secrets, a commit
tee informant said today.
This official refused to say which
one of the many witnesses who
paraded before the committee in
secret sessions was persuaded to
talk.
The committee is expected to. de-
eide today when its bulky report
on atomic espionage will be made
public. The report itself repeatedly
will be bulwarked by hundreds Of
pages of executive session testimony.
Admissions" Reported.
While the report was being COM
pleted. a committee source made
this statement:
"One of the principals involved
has made some admissions and the
essence of the report is based on
these admissions"
More than a score of persons, in
cluding scientists, professors, rank
ing Army officers, avoWed Conmu-
nists and their friends and relatives
were called before the committee
during its three weeks of closed
meetings.
Four more were to be called today.
Chairman Thomas said witnesses
will be heard at closed sessions most
OF this week despite completion OF
the report.
Probe Declared Continuing.
"The atomic espionage investiga-
ton is not over, 'he said.
In addition to the admissions from
one of those involved, the COMMITTEES
findings repeatedly include:
l. Sharp criticism of the admin
istration for its alleged failure to
prosecute known spies involved In
atomic espionage.
2. Recommendations that three or
more persons be prosecuted for their
part in efforts to steal the secrets
of the atomic bomb.
3. A report that scientists assigned
to work on the Manhattan project
at the University OF Chicago were
apparently successful in their ef-
forts to uncover and relay to Soviet
agents some of the closely guarded
| information on atomic research.
Ferguson Continues Fight.
While the House group was COM
pleting its report, Senator Ferguson.
chairman of a Senate subcommittee
Investigating the Government 10y
atty program, continued his rum
ming fight with the administration.
Senator Ferguson telegraphed
President Truman, saying he UNDER
stood the President would discuss
communism tomorrow night in his
Oklahoma City speech.
The Senator said that he had no
hesitation In saying that he be-
lieved Mr.. Truman has no personal
sympathy on Communism, but add
ed that the impression has grown
up that the President has been
willing to allow persons of suspected
loyalty to remain in the Govern
ment service because public ex-
posure of the facts would be polit-
ically damaging to your adminis-
tration."
Asks Hoover Testimony.
Mr.. Ferguson suggested to Mr..
Truman that in his speech he say
whether j. Edgar Hoover. director
OF the FBI, or top aide, will be
permitted to give public testimony
as to the number of Communists or
other disloyal persons in the Gov
ernment.
j Mr.. Ferguson also suggested that
Mr.. Truman answer this question:
why was 1t that employees Of the
State Department were permitted
to retain their positions after orders
/, had been issued by competent
:, authorities purporting to deny them
access to top secret files because Of
their suspected disloyalty and why
+, was such procedure resorted to with
out notification to the Secretary OF
: State?"