Evening star., 1949-09-29
|Un-American Probers
Delay Publication, Of
Report on Red Spying
BY NewboId Moves, Jr.


BY kewboId Noyes, j..
The House Committee on Un-
American Activities today post
poned publication of its scheduled
report on Soviet espionage. as
committee members argued about
the reports naming of Scientist
x"
Scientist x" is wartime mem
ber of the staff of the University
of California's radiation laboratory
who allegedly turned atomic in
formation over to a West Coast
Russian spy. ,>.., .-..
Committee officials said the re-
port probably would be made
public tomorrow.
Adequate Data Seen Lacking.
A minority of the committee, 1t
was learned. objected to the pre-
pared report on the ground that
the group did not have adequate
information in hand on which to
base its specific Identification of
Scientist x"
The minority felt the committee
had arrived at its conclusion as
the result of a process of elimina-
ton. not as the result OF actual
testimony or evidence received.
The person named in the COM
mittee report. it was understood,
is an individual who has been
identified by the Federal Bureau
Of Investigation, to the satisfac-
ton of that agency, as Scientist
x" The committee, however,
never has seen the report of the
FBI's investigation. which has
been withheld under President
Truman's instructions on the han
ding of confidential data de-
veloped by investigative agencies.
Identification Probable.
The minority group on the COM
mittee was said to feel that the
naming Of Scientist x" in the
forthcoming report could only be
based on evidence which the COM
mittee thinks the FBI has, but
which it has never seen.
Some committee members felt
that the proper line to take in the
report was simply to raise a ques-
ton as to why no prosecution ever
was instituted against Scientist
X" If the FBI. in fact, was certain
he had given atomic research in
formation to an unauthorized per-
son.
Despite the argument over the
identification of Scientist X" it
was considered probable that the
report. when 1t is made public,
will name the suspected scientist.
However. the section of the report
which refers to him is understood
to be undergoing revision.
Scientist x" the committee has
said, transmitted atomic secrets to
Steve Nelson, identified by the
committee as q Soviet espionage
agent on the West Coast during
the war.
Nelson Denies Spying.
Nelson. now admittedly a Com
munist Party organizer in the
Western Pennsylvania area. has
denied he had anything to do with
the atomic spying on the West
Coast.
The committee has conducted a
lengthy investigation into the
operation of the University of
California's radiation laboratory.
encountering q marked unwilling
ness on the part Of numerous
former employees there to discuss
their wartime jobs and their rela-
tions to one another.
Among those on whom the COM
mittee has centered its interests
are DR.. Joseph w. Weinberg,
David Bohn and Giovanni Rossi
Lomanitz.
OF late. the committee has man.
ifested 2 particular interest in the
connections of DR.. Weinberg.
Mrs. Bartlett Heard.
The committee met In executive
session today to take the testimony
of Mrs. Doris Silver Bartlett Of
New York. Committee members
said she is the person identified in
q previous report as Mrs. Doris
Silver Ametneik, who allegedly
served as letter drop" for Nelson
in transmitting his reports to a
mysterious agent known as "Al."