Evening star., 1948-03-05

INDUCED in some criticism of hin,
early last year.
When a reporter asked II he
favored giving out the FBI letter
only parts of which have been re-
vealed, DR.. Condor said that was
not for him to say, since 1t was
department matter.
One of the charges In the subcon-
mittee report Of last Monday, which
started the present furor, was that
DR.. Condor had knowingly or un-
knowingly" entertained and associ-
ated with alleged Russian agents.
DR.. Condor said today that, to
the best of his knowledge, he has
mo friends who are Communists.
OF course I cannot guarantee that,
but as far as I know it is true"
DR.. Condor volunteered the in
formation that the subcommittee re-
port has some mistakes in it." For
example, he said, he has never had
the pleasure of meeting the wife
Of the Polish Minister. On the other
hand, he said he knew some others
who were not mentioned in the re-
port, and added he would have been
glad to help the subcommitte on
the report If he had been asked.
Mr.. Towne answered questions
freely about the departments Loy-
atty Board procedure, always care
fully stopping short of revealing any
Of the data his superiors decided
not to turn over to the subcom-
mittee.
Inquiry Started in 1947.
According to Mr. Towne the Com
merce Loyalty Board began its in
quiry concerning DR.. Condor in
May, 1947, and asked the FBI for a
report. He said the boards deci-
sion giving DR.. Condor a clean bill
of health came last month. In ex-
PLANTATION of the length of time that
intervened, Mr.. Towne said this was
the first case since the loyalty
boards creation that was carried
through all the processes of investi-
cation.
At the outset Of today's session,
Mr.. Rankin asked, "If there is moth
ing wrong with this mans record,
why are you unwilling to submit his
records to congressional commit
tee?"
Mr.. Towne reminded the Missis-
sippian that, las a witness, he was
carrying out a lawful order of his
superior, Secretary Hartman"
Mr.. Rankin said If that Is to be
the policy any bureau of the Gov
ernment scould deny similar infor-
nation to Congress.
Mr.. Towne pointed out that the
President has set UP Loyalty Re-
view Board, which can 60 over the
decisions Of loyalty boards in any
department. ...
Hartman Seeks Review.
Secretary Hartman announced
last night that he is seeking suchs a
review in DR.. Condon's case in view
of the public interest In the matter.
Committee Counsel Robert E.
Stripping sought to show by ques-
tioning that 1t is the practice Of the
FBI never to disclose the sources OF
its information in its reports, except
to identify persons interviewed by
code numbers. The lawyer contend
ed, therefore, that the FBI letter on
DR.. Condor could be made public
without disclosing sources OF infor-
nation.
When Mr.. Nixon objected to the
Rankin motion to make public all
the data the Un-American Activities
Committee has, the California men,
ber did not 60 into details about the
grand jury investigation he said
might be interfered with.
Mr.. Nixon told a reporter later,
however, that he had no information
indicating that any grand jury was
investigating DR.. Condor, but that
there might be in the committees
full record sources of information
and individuals" that would affect a
grand jury inquiry.
Would Affect Program.
Representative Wood joined in to
observe that as far as he knows the
committee itself has no evidence of
any grand jury investigation, al
though individual members may
have such information.
At one point during the discussion
of why the Commerce Department
is withholding its records, Mr..
Towne said it is mot that the facts
that we have in our possession would
in themselves be prejudicial Ito the
public INTEREST," but that the loyalty
program in general would be affect
ed" He went on to explain that
persons having information might
be reluctant in the future to give it
to a loyalty board if the records are
not to be confidential.
It was after the witness had agreed
- l.