Evening star., 1953-05-26
Navy Aides Debating
McCahhy's Demand
To Use Ship Data

: The demand of Senator Nc
Carthy, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin, that the Navy allow him to
use top-secret intelligence re-
ports to prove his charge that
British-owned ships traded with
Communist China threw the
Navy into quandary today.
1t was learned that Navy in
formation, which when fitted in
with public reports with Lloyd's
soof London. did in fact give the
Senator what was termed a ''bill
i. of particulars" The British In
formation Service demanded
such a bill from the Senator.
=. Some Navy officials favored
allowing the Senator to use the
Navy list-said to name about
100 British ships-with a request
that he not press to use the top
secret dispatches from which
the list was compiled.
Would Protect Sources.
The use of those dispatches,
1T was pointed out. would neces-
sar1ly reveal sources of informa-
ton which intelligence chiefs
were most anxious to protect.
At the request of the Senate
s1nvestlgationS subcommittee,
which Senator Mccarthy heads,
the Navy furnished it with a
list of the ships. However, this
was classified top-secret and de.
partment officials had expected
that the classification would be
respected.
F, UnderSecretary Of the Navy
Charles S. Thomas conferred
with the Mccarthy group in
executive session yesterday. But
today a Navy decision on Just
what could be declassif1ed to bear
out the Senator's charge still had
not been decided.
I'VE can't wik no matter what
the decision may be-" moaned a
top Navy officer.
Senator Mccarthy said today
Tn sure we will'' get permis-
sion to name the ships, and to
publish details of United States
allies refusal to embargo ship
ments to the Chinese Reds of
goods which this Government re-
CARDS as War-uSeful
Mystery still shrouded the de-
tails, including extent of the
peace-making role reported to
have been played by Vice Presi-
dent Nixon, but Senator McCar-
thy, Vice President Nixon and
'other sources gave an account
OF the incident. They said that
Senator Mccarthy:
/. Sent a letter to the White
House Wednesday night or
Thursday morning asking that
Gen. Eisenhower say publicly
what he thinks of allies refusal
to join this country in a COM
plete embargo on trade with the
Reds.
2. Ordered the letter stopped
at the staff level" in the White
House-which kept it from COM
ing of1cially to Gen. Eisenhow-
er's attention, at least for the
present.
-. NixOn'S Version
Senator Mccarthy insisted he
never had authorized delivery of
his letter to General Eisenhower.
He said he is convinced now "it
would be improper" to ask the
President for his views.
The Vice President gave re-
porters this version of what hap
pened:
II did discuss the matter with
Senator Mccarthy on the tele-
phone on Thursday. He on his
own initiative said he had pre-
pared a letter but that he did
not want to have it delivered to
the President because he wanted
to discuss the matter further
with the committee. Under the
circumstances. the letter was not
delivered to the President"
A highly-placed source who
declined to be quoted by name
said the letter did reach the staff
level at the White House, but
that telephone call from Mr..
Nixon prevented it from being
handed officially to the President.