Evening star., 1952-05-06
Senate Group Urges
Prosecution ofWalkeI
On Criminal Charges

]
signed as head of the Agriculture
Departments Cotton Branch.
Mr.. Walker is accused of leak
ing Government plans-some of
them military secrets - to an
Egyptian cotton dealer.
Senators had demanded the
Agriculture Department suspend
or fire Mr.. Walker, but he beat
them to the punch yesterday by
tresigning.
A Department spokesman, how
ever, said this will not exempt Mr..
Walker from possible prosecution.
The Senate Agriculture Commit
tee, despite the resignation, is
asking the Justice Department to
consider criminal charges.
Even if convicted he probably
would get a Government pension
Agriculture Department officials
said.
Mr.. Walker worked for Agricul-
ture for nearly Is years. He is So
years old. Under ordinary cir
cumstances. he would be entitled
to a pension when he reaches g.,
even though he will not be work
ing for the department at that
time.
Accused of Leak"
An Agriculture Department in
veStigator told the committee Mr.
Walker apparently told the Egyp-
tian cotton dealer. Loutfy Man.
sour, about secret American
tplans to stockpile long staple
Egyptian cotton for military'pu pur-
poses. When the United States
started actual buying, Mr.. Man
sour had his own stockpile on
hand and sold the United States
1897 million worth of cotton-at
Iprices far above those of a few
months earlier.
Mr.. Walker submitted his resig-
nation to Gus F.. Geissler, director
of the Production and Marketing
Administration of the Agriculture
Department.
I'm the light Of the recent de.
velopments and charges in regare
to the conduct of my Office,
feel that my usefulness to tn,
Department Of Agriculture ha
been impaired" Mr.. Walker wrote
ITO continue in my presen
position would be embarrassing t,
the Department of Agriculture
land also detrimental to my health
For these reasons, I feel I shoult
sever my relation with the De.
partment, effective Immediately.
II am voluntarily rendering my
resignation which does not con
stitute any implication of gull
on my part. The records clearl,
indicate that have not profitet
financially from any of thes'
transactions.
Not knowingly Guilty.
>. Evidence before the, Senat,
Agriculture Committee may indi
cate some indiscretion. However
I still wish to say that am no
knowingly guilty of any willfu
); wrong doing. am sure that afte
!, complete review of all the evi
dence and facts, 1t will be deter
) mined that I am not guilty o
the accusations brought agains
me. ....
Il feel confident that my man,
| friends in Government and il
private business will certify to m,
integrity and honesty.
Il trust that this resignation
will be made effective at the clos'
of business today"
Mr.. Walker owns an Oklahom;
) farm. which nets about sc, 900 an
) nually. He also owns a house il
Florida.
His job as head of the Cottol
l. Branch is being taken over by F
!. Marion Rhodes. who has beer
/ with the Agriculture Department
| since 1884. He was raised on .
) Missouri cotton farm, and re
ceived law degree from Georg,
, Washington University. Recent,
he has directed the Department
, Office of Requirements and Allo
, cations.
Richard H. Roberts, deputy di
rector in this Office, became actinI
director.