Evening star., 1948-12-05
Chambers
Continued From First Page)

figured In o sensational controversy
at House committee hearings last
summer and more recently in the
$4,000 suit filed by Mr.. Hiss against
Mr.. Chambers.
The suit grew out Of charges
made by Mr.. Chambers at the hear
ings and repeated in radio inter-
view, that MIR. Hiss belonged to
prewar Communist apparatus
here. Mr.. Chambers testified he
knew and worked with Mr.. Hiss In
Communist activities in 1885 and
1896 and had talked with him last
in 1898. Denying this, Mr.. Hiss said
he had known Mr.. Chambers for a
short time as a free lance writer
named George Crosley.
Chambers Spurred New Inquiry.
The controversy seemed to be
dying out until attorneys for Mr..
Hiss and Mr.. Chambers In the
pending suit in Federal Court at
Baltimore took pretrial dispositions
from Mr.. and Mrs. Chambers. At
that. time Mr.. Chambers produced
numerous documents he said would
support his charges against Mr..
Hiss.
That development prompted
House committee officials to seek
whatever additional documentary
evidence Mr.. Chambers might have.
The result, committee officials said
Yesterday, was the disclosure of the
microfilms. Omcials indicated also
that they later obtained some addi-
tional documentary evidence, but
they did not say how much Of 1t,
If any, came from Mr.. Chambers.
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay and Raymond p
Wharty, first assistant to Assistant
Attorney General Alexander NJ
Campbell, yesterday asked and re-
ceived committee permission to ex-
anime the microflms and all other
documentary evidence in the COM
mittee's possession.
They visited the committees
headquarters in the Old House Of
flee Building while Mr.. Stripping
was talking by long distance with
Representative Mundt. Republican
Senator-elect from South Dakota
in Madison, s. Oak, on plans te
reopen public hearings.
Justice Department officials
asked to examine the microfilm and
other material" Mr.. Stripping said
II put them on the phone with Mr.
Mundt. He authorized me to let
them examine it here in the ONCE
If they need it for the grand jury
or official investigation we will make
copies available or deliver. the orig
inal documents to the grand jury
Evidence Under Guard.
Mr.. Fay and Mr.. Wharty looked
over the material-being kept under
24-hour guard in a locked safe ir
the committees Offices - and lef
after about half hour. They made
no comment.
Justice Department sources noted
however, that Mr.. Campbell is heac
of the Justice Departments. Grim.
inal division studying feasibility OF
asking Federal grand jury indict-
ments for perjury in connection
with the conflicting testimony Of
MIR. Hiss and Mr.. Chambers at the
August hearings.
At that time, so far as the printed
record of the hearings shows, Mr.
| Chambers produced no documentary
evidence to support his charge!
against Mr.. Hiss. At one executive
session he told the committee h
had no "factual evidence"
That statement was recorded a
closed session August 7 in tn,
Federal Courthouse in New York
Representative Nixon, Republican
of California, as well as Representa-
tives Hebert, Democrat, of Louisi
ana, and Mcdowell, Republican, o
California, and Mr.. STRIPPING ques
toned Mr.. Chambers on that oc
casion.
No Explanation for Delay.
After Mr.. Chambers declared fiatl.
that Mr.. Hiss was member o
the Communist Party, a statemen
subsequently denied by Mr.. Hiss
Mr.. Nixon asked:
do you have any other evidence
any factual evidence. to bear ou
"A