Evening star., 1951-10-04
Truman Views onSecurity Order


Iobjectives. but it was difficult to
establish the means for accom-
lplishing both of them.
In those agencies of the Gov
Iernment primarily concerned with
national security matters, such as
the Department of State and the
Department of Defense, we have
had for number of years a sys-
tenn of classifying information to
prevent it's disclosure to unauthor-
lied persons when it would be
dangerous to the national security.
This system has worked reason
ably well. although it has not in
all instances prevented the publi-
cation of information which aided
our enemies against the United
States, and in other cases it has
been used to classify information
which actually had no particular
relationship to national security.
Agencies Borrow Secrets.
In the present defense mo-
bllization period, it has become
necessary in an increasing number
OF cases to make military secrets
available to executive agencies
other than. the military depart
ments in order that these other
agencies might effectively perform
their functions that are necessary
in supporting the defense effort.
1t is also necessary for some of
the civilian agencies such as the
Central Intelligence Agency and
the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
ton. for example. to originate and
protect some information vital to
our defense 1t should be readily
apparent that military secrets in
the hands of these other agencies
should be protected just as much
as when they are in the hands of
the military departments. 1t would
also seem to be sensible to provide
that different agencies take the
same kind Of precautions to pro-
tect this information. It would not
make any sense to have a paper
containing military secrets care
fully locked up in a safe in the
Pentagon. with copy of the same
paper left lying around on the
desk of a lawyer in the Justice
Department.
Nov the purpose Of this
executive order is to provide a !
comnlon-Sense answer to these |
problems. 1t is to provide that
information affecting the national
security shall continue to be pro-
tectec when it gets out of the
hands Of tie military departments
and into the hands of other agen-
cies. The purpose is to provide
that these other agencies shall
provide the same kind of protec-
ton that IS provided in the mill
tary departments.
Correction Of Abuses.
Another purpose OF the order
and it is a most important pur-
pose--is to provide that informa-
ton shall not be classified and
withheld from the public on the
ground that it affects the national
security, unless it is in fact actu-
ally necessary to protect such in
formG lion in the interests of
national security.
In other words, one Of the pur-
poses Of this executive order is to
correct abuses which may have
growE up by use of overclassifica-
ton of information in the name
of nationa. security.
II think this executive order
represents reasonable approach
to very difficult problem think
it viii work in the public interest
and I expect to watch it closely to
see that it is not used as an excuse
for withholding information to
which the public is legitimately
entitled.
ut may we'll be that experience
under the order will indicate that
it should be changed. In that
case. I will be glad to change it
and will be glad to give consid-
Grafton to reasonable suggestions
for changes that are advanced in
good faith.
Il would like to suggest to. those
who are seriously and honestly
concerned about this matter that
they consider it effectively and
with the interest of the United
States uppermost in their minds.
l would like to suggest that they
consider how we can best accom-
plish objectives which all of us
should be able to agree upon. I
do not believe that the best solu-
tion can be reached by adopting
an approach based on the theory
that everyone has a right to know
our military secrets and related
information affecting the national
security.