Evening star., 1953-01-05
DisIoyoIty and the u. N.

AS brought out by Federal grand jury in
New York and by the Senate Subcommittee on
Internal Security, the United Nations has en-
ployed a number OF American citizens whose
loyalty to their country has been extremely
dubious. However, despite testimony creating
widespread impression to the contrary, neither
Secretary General Trygve Lie nor his staff or
ganization seems to deserve serious criticism for
that fact.
At any rate, as set forth in persuasive
statement by Assistant Secretary General Byron
Price, the record shows that Mr.. Lie, ever since
taking over his Office In 1946 'has consistently
and unequivocally" held that no one should be
allowed to serve in the U. N. Secretariat with
respect to whom there is substantial evidence
indicating subversive activities against his own
government" or even against other govern
ments. Further, the record shows that he has
repeatedly" requested that the United States
specifically the State Department
him with pertinent information to insure
against the hiring of disloyal Americans.
Yet, within recent weeks, both the Senate
subcommittee and the New York grand jury
have had dealings with group Of the U. Ms
American employees who have invoked their
constitutional protection against self-incrimi-
nation and refused to testify whether or not
they are or have been Communists and whether
or not they are or have been engaged In espi-
onage or subversive activities against the United
States. Mr.. Lie has since dismissed these people,
but there still remains this question: Why did
he ever take them on In the first place? How
can that be reconciled with the assertion that
he has consistently and unequivocally" been
against hiring such individuals and has ere
peatedly" sought data Of the kind that would
have kept them out?
Mr.. Prices statement includes the following
answers, among others: Cd In 1946 the State
Department was dsinclined to recommend or
"clear" United States nationals seeking U. N.
jobs; (2) in that early period the Secretariat
was obliged to recruit workers In hurry, and
it was then that employment was given to many
of the Americans involved in the recent dis
closures; CD our Government has been ex-
tremely slow in replying to Mr.. Lies requests
for security data on large number Of in
dividuals. some Of the requests-50 Of which
are still outstanding going unanswered for
well over year; (N there have been adverse
evaluations" Of certain persons but the State
Department 1t violate confidential sources
has not supported those evaluations with
specific, actionable evidence; and 60 because
of necessary rules laid down by the U. N. itself,
the Secretary General Is not free to act arbi-
trarily or precipitately on that kind of infor-
nation. which actually has been found to be
quite wrong in several cases.
In view of these and similar considerations,
1t seems clear that Mr. Lie and the Secretariat
cannot Justly be accused of having shown
serious laxity in this difficult and complex mat
ter. AS for our own Government particularly
the State Department-an extenuating circum-
stance is the fact that loyalty and security
procedures must operate in highly secretive
atmosphere, which In itself generates hesitancy
and circumspection to guard against injustices
and protect condolences. Nevertheless, as Mr..
Prices statement indicates, there has been
something wrong with our oficial policy
This Is especially true Of the strange slow
ness displayed in answering the U. Ms requests
for personnel information. That Is one Of the
disturbing oddities that have yet to be ex-
planned. and the whole subject thus calls for
further Senate investigation along with the
new grand Jury inquiry ordered by the Attorney
General.