Evening star., 1951-06-10
Tokyo Spy Story May RefueI Far East Debate
Gen. WiIIouehby
Says Sorge Case
Is Real Smusher'
By L. Edgar Primo

When Maj. Gen. Charles A. VIII
loughby, former intelligence chief
for Gen. Macarthur. goes before
the House Committee on Un-
American Activities later this
month to testify on the Sorge
spy ring case, he will face two
principal questions:
/. Who were the Americans in
volved with the German Commu-
mist spymaster. DR.. Richard Sorge,
in the fantastically successful pre-
war espionage net in Japan-and
what roles did they play?
2. How was this Soviet under
ground group affiliated with the
Comintern apparatus in Shang-
hal, whose goal was the destruc-
ton of Nationalist China and the
subversion of Southeast Asia?
This inquiry may well become
the new storm center Of the great
debate on what has happened in
the Far East and who is to blame.
The Prussian-trained Willoughby
has been eager for two years to
tell the story to Congress. He
has promised that he and his vast
store of documents on the sub
ject will shed great deal of
light on the above points.
Letter to lovre
He wrote a letter about it, last
year, to Representative Lovre, Re-
publican. Of South Dakota. Re-
ferring to the printed summary
statement he has prepared on the
Sorge rings activities, Willoughby
said:
"The document will explain the
collapse Of China. It outlines the
mechanism Of Comintern conspir-
acy and Soviet duplicity. It
reveals also the incredible parti-
cipation of many Americans.
Gen. Willoughby arrived in the
United States for the first time
since World War II last week.
After routine checks in San Fran
cisco in connection with his re-
quested retirement. the contro-
versial intelligence expert will
come to Washington for appear
ances before several congressional
groups.
The House committee, with
which he has been in correspond
ence for nearly two years, is ex-
pected to get first crack at him.
Several weeks ago the general
sent the House group two foot
lockers loaded with documents re-
lating to the Sorge case. The spy
masters 32,000-word memoirs and
confession-and evidential exhib-
its totaling 10000 words and
consisting Of more than a thou
sand plates. photostats and illus
trations-are included.
Staff investigators of the Un-
American Activities Committee
are busy studying these papers,
which were analyzed from legal
point by international lawyers of
"unimpeachable reputation" for
G-2 in Tokyo.
Espionage and Deceit
Gen Willoughby has been
quoted since his return as saying
he has a sensational" story to
tell-"a real smasher." If what
he has stated in letters to Con-
gressmen can be substantiated-
and he says the documents will
leave no doubt on this score
then, indeed, one of the genera
tion's most amazing accounts of
espionage and deceit, as we'll as
blindness in high places, will be
spread on the record.
House committee members,
however, are not saying a word
publicly Some privately express
great anticipation. But all appar-
emily are taking the position that
the general and the documents
will have to do the talking. If the
case is a solid one, no buildup by
them is necessary. If it is not
quite SO good as claimed, they
won't be left holding the bag.
Members of both parties fear
the hearings may deteriorate into
a political football, because of the
nature of the testimony and the
omnipresent, bitter issue of Amer
lean Far Eastern policy. There
probably will be a move to hold
the hearings behind closed doors.
When the Pentagon released {