Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-15

the State Department today.
DR.. Robert L. johnson, retiring
head of the Departments Inter-
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Mccarthy Administration Rift Widens in
Dispute Over GA. Poee AS
national Information Admins
tration, made the statement in
releasing the text of a new direc-
tive and a 50-page report con-
corning operations of the TIA
library program overseas.
The directive formalized
policy statement issued last week
by DR.. johnson, which imme-
diately had been assailed as
ridiculous" by Senator Nc
earthly.
In the face of Senator Nc
Carthy's attack, DR.. johnson de-
clared today that the State De-
partment intends to stand
firmly behind" the new com
mon sense" policy, which
makes a sharp distinction be-
tween conspiracy and honest
controversy in the selection Of
books"
Mccarthy Apparent Target.
DR.. Johnson's statement did
not mention Senator Mccarthy
by name. But he clearly had the
Wisconsin Republican in mind
when he declared:
"One of the, great dangers
have sensed during my term OF
Office is that many of our most
effective programs in fighting
communism are being impaired
by unsupported charges that
they are somehow soft on COM
muniSm.
II do not say that there is
deliberate effort to kill or cripple
these anti Communist programs
through the simple device OF
making such charges.
Il merely point out that 1t is
one of the tragic ironies of our
time that some of those who
are in the forefront of the fight
against communism are among
those who are damaging the
action programs that do battle
against it."
Martin MerSon, a special as
Sistant to DR.. johnson, read DR..
JohnSon'S prepared statement to
a special news conference at the
State Department.
Leaving Office About July 81.
DR.. johnson. who became head
of the liza March 3, has resigned
because of i'll health. He expects
to leave office about the last of
this month.
Senator Mccarthy, who had
announced last week that DR..
johnson and his aides would be
called before his Senate Inves-
tigating subcommittee today to
explain the new book policy, said
earlier today he had cancelled
that plan. Whether DR.. john
sons latest blast would cause
the Senator to change his mind
again was not Immediately
known.
On talking with reporters, Mr..
Merson emphasized that II do
not expect the State Department
to back down one inch" from the
position outlined in the john
son policy statement and today'S
directive.
He pointed out this position
has been approved by President
Eisenhower and Secretary Of
State Dulles.
No Approval of Report.
Mr.. Merson told questioners.
however, that DR.. Johnson's
statement today-With it's indi-
rect attack on Senator McCar-
thy, was not approved in adj
vance by either the President or
Secretary Dulles.
In releasing his detailed re-
port on the book program, DR..
johnson said he felt it neces-
sary to tell the full story lin
view of some of the charges i'm
plying that we were somehow
soft on the Communist ques-
ton"
He declared that books fig
uring in recent public criticism
amounted only to "a minute
fraction of l per cent of the
books on our shelves"
The report listed books by
avoWed Communists and persons
(See BOOKS, Page A-5)