Evening star., 1949-02-11
Sorge Spy Case Points
To Pattern in America,
Aide in Far East Says
BY The Associated Press

TOKYO, Feb. 11.-Gen. Mac
Arthur's intelligence chief said
today he had no reason TO believe
a pattern of Communist spying
was not continuing.
Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willough-
by, head of the supreme COM
mander's intelligence section. said
he believed the Washington re-
lease of the story of the Richard
Sorge spy ring in prewar Japan
was timed for its educational
value" for the American people
1t was released yesterday.
Gen. Willoughby was asked at
a press conference if "a spy ring
is operating here today against
American interests
He replied that the Sorge case
has remarkable parallels in the
Canadian atomic spy ring. in the
recent United States investigation
of "leaks-and that's a mild word
from the State Department and
others encountered in his Sc years
as an Army intelligence officer.
These suggest a pattern y he
said. Il have no reason to believe
this pattern does not continue in
other countries
Macarthur Connection Denied.
He said release of the Sorge
story at this time should be
viewed in light of the psychologi-
cal difference between 1945, when
we first knew the details of it, and
the year 1948-49-a year of the
Berlin airlift and cold war"
Gen. Macarthur declined Ito
comment on the Sorge case BY
complaints by Miss Agnes Smed-
ley. American writer. that she was
unjustly accused in the Armys
spy ring report.
Gen. Willoughby said Gen. Mac
Arthur had no connection with the
report released in Washington. He
said the report was compiled from
japanese court records and in
vestigations by American Counter
Intelligence agents. These agents
checked details with both japanese
and foreigners involved who were
available. he said.
The only new detail regarding
Sorge revealed by Gen. Willoughby
was that the spy was a colonel on
the Russian Army general staff. I
He intimated that other spy
rings might possibly be revealed
by Washington but refused to
elaborate.
Changes Since AS Cited.
Asked how Max Klausen, radio
operator for the Sorge ring. got
away, Gen. Willoughby said that; /
In the light of present relations
with Russia I'VE did many things
in 1945 to assist the American
government maintain amicable
relations with its allies which we
probably would not do now.
Sometimes it is profitable to
allow individuals to roam at will
and see what happens, he added. .
In the light of hindsight perhaps
We released one or two too many"
Gen. Willoughby said he would
assume full and personal reSpon-
sibiIity" for the report which
named Miss Smedley as a spy
and agent of the Soviet govern
ment." He said the Army had
much more on" her than was in
the report. He did not elaborate.
Considers Waving Immunity.
Commenting on the American
writer's statement that she would
like to sue Gen. Macarthur for an
attempt at assassination of my
character" the intelligence chief
said, Her reference to Gen. Mac
Arthur was entirely inappro-
pirate"
nifty in case Miss Smedley brought
suit, Gen. Wiiloughby answered: /
II am thinking it over. Morally
I am delighted to assume RESPONSE
bility, including the waving Of
immunity"
He added he would have to con-
suit his superiors.
japanese Knew of Case.
japanese generally were more
interested in learning why the
Sorge spy case was revealed at
this time than in its working de-
tails.
Metropolitan newspapers gave
prominent and considerable space
to the story. But one editor COM
mented: The case was closed
long ago. Most japanese knew
about it. Why is it being revived
now?" /
The man on the street raised
the same question. Some of those
interviewed said they thought
Americans were trying to warn
the japanese against Communist
activities.
All newspapers turned their
staffs loose to locate rare pictures
of Richard Sorge, the German
Communist who posed as a Nazi
and lost his life as a spy. That
meant hundreds OF reporters and
photographers. They found some
and the largest to appear in
print was the size of an American
half dollar.
IaCr