Evening star., 1953-09-09
McCorthy's Army-Leok Probe
Turns to CoIumnist' S LegMon'
By Robert K. Welsh

By Robert K. Welsh
Senator Mccarthy turned to
other pursuits today-particu-
larly Drew Pearson, the colum-
nist-while awaiting an Army
review of the Senate Investiga-
tions Subcommittee demand for
identification of officials who
cleared suspected Communists
for classified military work.
The Wisconsin Republican
wound up open and closed hear
ings, sandwiched with a lunch
con with Army Secretary Ste
vens, by asserting late yesterday
that 'leg man" for Mr.. Pear
son got secret information from
a former employe Of the old
Munitions Board.
He announced he would ask
the subcommittee to subpoena
Mr.. Pearson and the reported
..'leg man." Fred Blumenthal,
unless they ask for an oppor-
tunity to testify.
Could Be Heard Today.
TF thev so reol1est thew might
be heard today, the Senator
added. Otherwise a hearing
might be delayed until the Army
forwards records sought by the
subcommittee.
This latest renewal Of the Me-
Carthy Pearson feud developed
at a subcommittee closed session.
It bore no direct relationship to
Yesterdays earlier open hearing
at which Senator Mccarthy
called on President Eisenhower
to make good on cleanup cam
paign promises
The Senator said he would
take UP the issue personally with
the President if the Army failed
to disclose names of military
personnel who cleared two sus-
pected Communists for Army
employment and access to classi-
fed material in New York.
The atmosphere became less
tense after he and Senator
Dirksen, Republican, Of Illinois,
another subcommittee member,
lunched with Mr.. Stevens. Mr..
Stevens did not testify formally
before the subcommittee. He
later told a news conference he
would look carefully into the
New York cases and also into
the directive issued by former
President Truman in 1948.
General Stands OF Order.
On the basis of that directive,
Maj. Gen. Miles Reber, an Army
general staff legislative officer
yesterday said that even If he
knew the names of the clearance
officers he could not give them
to the subcommittee. Senator
Mccarthy tried in vain to have
the offifficer voice a personal
opinion as to whether such in
formation should be given to
the subcommittee.
Mr.. Stevens yesterday after
noon, promised only to study the
matter and submit a decision
probably within a week to the
subcommittee.
Senator Mccarthy indicated
he regarded this as progress be-
cause the secretary seemed more
conciliatory than Gen. Reber and
other Army officers had been. In
any event, Senator Mccarthy
reported that the luncheon
turned out to be a "very profit
able meeting"
He said he was satisfied the
secretary is opposed to any cover
up and will work this out in the
best insterest of the public. But
he emphasized that he has not
changed his own views that the
subcommittee is entitled to the
clearance information it wants.
There is no time limit or
pressure in this matter" Mr.
Stevens informed reporters
after I've looked into the situa-
ton and the presidential direc-
tive, which I am sorry to say ]
have not seen, I might wish to
review the matter with the White
House. But I am not sure I will
go to the White House. Person
ally, my disposition is to give the
committees all the information
I can. I'd rather err by giving
too much than too little"
Secretary Stevens declared
that any Army employe who re-
fuses to tell whether he is q
Communist has no place in the
Army service.
Justice Study Seen.
It was learned from other
sources that the problem prob
ably will be studied at least in
formally by Justice Department
authorities, especially in view OF
the 1948 directive's provision ap-
parently giving some latitude to
agency heads to disclose some
loyalty and security information
under certain conditions.
The open hearing yesterday
grew out of closed sessions by
the subcommittee in New York
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