Evening star., 1952-04-05
Set
Ito Put Cleanup
Job Up 10 fB|
Would Rely on Hoover
To Find if Probe Is
Needed and Where
By George Beveridqe

BY George Beveridee
James P. McGranery has made
it plain that. if the Senate con-
firms his appointment as Attorney
General. any inquiry of corruption
in Government will be handled
completely by the FBI.
The Federal judge announced
this decision after an hour-long
conference with President Tru-
man late yesterday. After the
Mr. McGranery returned
to his home in Philadelphia, pre-
to wait until the Senate
acts on the nomination.
On Capitol Hill, Chairman Nc
Carran of the Senate judiciary
Committee said his group will
take its time" on the nomination.
Amerasia Case Recalled.
Reaction to the move was high
lighted by charges from Repre-
Velde. Republican, of
Illinois. that Mr.. McGranery
'whitewashed" the 1945 Amerasia
case while he was an Assistant
Attorney General. The case in
volved the arrest of six persons
after secret Government docu--
ments were found in the Office Of
the magazine, AmeraSia.
Mr.. McGranery, a ruddy-faced
man with a brisk, confident man.
ner, brushed aside the charges,
and told reporters he presented all
the information he had in the
case to grand jury. He added:
IF the Senate thinks I'm
crooked. they won't confirm me-"
On the corruption issue, Mr..
said he doesn't know
yet whether there is any Govern
ment wrongdoing in proportions
to warrant investigating. Sc said
he would rely on FBI Director j.
Edgar Hoover to find out If q
cleanup is needed and where"
Bars Special Inquiry Unit.
He was emphatic, however, on
the point that no special inquiry
unit would be set up, such as was
established in the appointment of
Newbold Morris as special investi-
gator.
This extra-judicial or special
prosecutor idea." he said, II think
lis not in keeping with our prin-
ciples."
Judge McGranery said also
that what is left of the Morris
organization would be "dismantled
quickly" Mr.. Morris, who was
fired Thursday by former Attor-
ney General McGrath, left town
yesterday after the blow-up of his
feud with Mr.. McGrath swept
both men from public life.
Asked McGrath for Files.
Meanwhile, as the old Morris
headquarters on Pennsylvania
avenue closed up shop, some of his
former aides discussed the bitter
feud with reporters.
Samuel Becker, the New York
attorney, who was Mr.. Morris
chief counsel, said he thought the
point at which Mr.. McGrath de-
ci6ed fatty to rebel against the
inquiry came during a visit by
Mr. Becker to the Justice Depart
ment on March 26. The day be-
fore, Mr.. Morris told reporters.
Mr.. McGrath had agreed to dis
tribute financial questionnaires to
his top aides.
Mr.. Becker told a reporter he
asked Mr.. McGrath to see his
files.
"He asked what files"
II told him I wanted to get his
diary, his personal correspond
ence, his appointment book. his
record on telephone calls and
other things"
Says Records Were Refused.
Mr.. Becker said the Attorney
General refused to give up the
records. When Mr.. Becker noted
that the President had said the
Morris group could have what
ever material it needed, he said,
Mr.. McGrath replied tersely:
We'll see about. that"
Mr.. Becker said Mr.. McGrath
remained calm throughout the
interview" but told Mr.. Becker
that any access to the personal
records of his top aides would
have to be taken up with them.
He added:
"Still wanting to get started, I
asked him for records of cor
respondence to district attorneys.
records on some cases where
prosecution was dropped, and
some income tax returns.
HE said he would give us only
the cases where we had reason to
suspect something was wrong.
told him that's why we wanted
to look at them, to find where
something might be wrong.
II felt the investigation couldn't
succeed if we couldn't get any
records and I was just about ready
to quit then"
Threatens Delay of Report.
Mr.. Becker told reporters that
another roadblock was encoun-
tered when Mr.. McGrath de-
manded FBI checks on a large
number of employees, including
some transferred from other
agencies. He said the intention
was to get out a report by late
summer, and that the McGrath
demands were threatening to de-
lay that.
Mr.. Morris said he would pe
back next week to address a Ma
tional Press Club luncheon and
leave a set of recommendations
with President Truman.
Il don't know whether anybody
(See CLEANUP, Page A-2.)