Evening star., 1952-12-10
Hiss Showed No Bias
Favoring Communists
Davis Tells Probers
His Record Was Examined
For Curneeie Post,
Noted Lawyer Testifies
By Cecil HolIond

John w. Davis, famed New York
lawyer, told House investigators
today that Alger Hiss never gave
the slightest indication of bias in
favor of the Soviet government
while serving as president of the
Carnegie Endowment for Inter-
national Peace.
He said Hiss background was
Examined before his appointment
to the $40, ,000-a-year position anc
that "all reports we had from
every quarter were entirely favor
able"
| The 79-year-old lawyer testified
before the special House commit
tee investigating tax-exempt foun-
dations. He appeared at morn
ing session before returning to the
Supreme Court where he is taking
part in arguments on the school
segregation cases.
On Nominating Committee.
Mr. Davis said he was a mem
ber of q three-man nominating
committee of Carnegie trustees
who recommended Hiss for the
position. Hiss, former high State
Department official, was indicted
and convicted later on a charge
of perjury in denying that he had
turned over Government secret
papers to Whitaker Chambers as
courier for a Communist spy ring
that operated in Washington in
the 1930s.
The trustees of the $40 million
Carnegie endowment, Mr.. Davis
said, wanted a man for president
of the organization who was
familiar with Government and
foreign affairs.
Recommended by Dulles.
In response to questions, Mr.
Davis said Hiss was first mentioned
to him by John Foster Dulles, who
has been designated to become
Secretary of State in President
elect Eisenhower's cabinet.
I'VE made such investigations
as you would naturally make in
seeking to employ a man for an
important job" Mr.. Davis testi-
fled.
He added that Hiss resigned
from the Carnegie post when the
charges against him were under
investigation by Federal grand
jury in New York.
The resignation was not accepted
at that time.
ct was the feeling Of the board
in which I thoroughly shared .
Mr.. Davis added, that to accept
his resignation would be to pre-
Judge the case"
He said Hiss was given leave
Of absence for several months be-
fore his resignation finally was
accepted.
New President Testifies.
Another witness was Joseph E.
johnson, president of the Carnegie
Endowment.
1T seemed to me when ! Joined
the Carnegie Endowment in 1850
that its work for the cause of peace
was well worth the best Of any
mans effort" Mr.. johnson said.
II feel doubly sure Of this today"
The final witnesses on the 1921
million Rockefeller Foundation
yesterday was John D. Rockefeller
III. grandson Of the founder. He
told the House investigators that
the foundation, of which he is
chairman Of the board, has fol-
lowed the principles laid down
when it was established nearly 40
years ago.
Dean Rusk. former Assistant
Secretary of State and now presi-
dent of the foundation, was the
principal witness. He said the
Rockefeller Foundation has made
grants totaling $50 million over
the years to 28.753 organizations
and individuals. In only Is in
stances-23 individuals and two
organizations - have there been
questions about them. The
amount involved in the question:
able grants totaled about So mill
lion.