Evening star., 1952-11-14

self from his wife's arms yeSter-
FeIIer Had Spectacular Career Both in
Washington ond U. N. Poee A
day and leaped to death from
their 18th floor apartment.
Mr.. Lie, who announced his res
ignation from his U. N. post Mon
day, said Mr.. Feller killed him.
self because of the strain of de-
Tending U. N. employees against
indiscriminate Smears and exag-
gerated charges"
A federal grand jury as well as
the Internal Security Subcommit-
tee headed by Senator McCarran,
Democrat. of Nevada. has been
looking into charges of subversive
affiliations aimed at some Amer
lean members of the Secretariat.
Not Target of Investigation.
Robert Morris, counsel for the
Senate subcommittee, said Mr..
Feller himself was not a target of
the investigation. In a statement
in behalf of three members of the
subcommittee-Senators EaStland,
Democrat, of Mississippi; Fergu-
son. Republican, of Michigan, and
Smith, Democrat. of North Caro-
lina-Mr. Morris termed Mr.. Lies
assertion with regard to "smears"
as irresponsible.
Mr.. Feller was an $18, 8,000-a-year
general counsel and principal di-
rector of the U. N. legal depart
ment since 1916. He was credited
with writing some of the most i'm
portant statements of Mr.. Lie.
Associates said Mr.. Feller had
been a close friend of Alger Hiss,
former State Department aide con-
victed of lying to a grand jury
when he denied passing official
secrets to Whitaker Chambers,
Self-admitted courier for pre-
war Soviet spy ring.
Mr.. Lie. in statement to news
men, said Mr.. Feller has worked
day and night under my direction
to uphold due process of law and
justice in the investigations
against the indiscriminate smears
and exaggerated charges"
This placed him under pro-
longed and serious strain" Mr..
Lie said. "The terrible tragedy of
his death is the result"
Cites RefusaIs to Answer.
Mr.. Morris statement read:
"The statement of Trygve Lie is
on its face irresponsible. This
subcommittee is charged with the
duty of determining whether any
United States citizen working at
the United Nations poses a threat
to our national security.
Although the investigation is
barely under way, we have seen
parade of United Nations officials
refuse to deny membership in the
Communist party and in some
cases refuse to answer whether
they have been involved in espion-
age against this country. -.
I'VE fully intend to continue
our investigation in the interest
of the security of the United
States"
On shipboard bound for South
America yesterday, Senator Nc
Carran said. "Mr. Feller was not
before me while was on the COM
mittee. I don't know if his death
will interfere with the investiga-
ton. I've never talked to the
man"
Before he left yesterday. Sena-
tor McCarran said the sub-com-
mittee probably would suspend
the United Nations hearings until
after Christmas.
Feller Had Been Interviewed.
Mr.. Feller had been interviewed
recently by Mr.. Morris and Roy
Cohn, special assistant to the
United States attorney general.
Mr.. Morris emphasized that Mr..
Feller was not a target of the
probe.
Police said Mr.. Feller had been
suffering from a nervous condi-
.tion the past month. His wife,
Alice, told authorities her husband
had threatened to end his life
yesterday morning and that she
summoned the family physician
to calm him down. The doctor
arrived shortly after Mr.. Feller's
plunge.
Mrs. Feller said she thought Mr..
Lies resignation might have been
"a contributing factor" in her
husbands death.
But she was more inclined to
blame his plunge on his fear and
worry that he wasn't giving enough
to the q. N.
HE was a perfectionist." Mrs.
Feller said. ''He thought he wasn't
doing the job as well as he should
have.
"The pressure of his work was
SO enormous. He felt he had too
= many things to do and couldn't
get them all DONE"