Evening star., 1953-11-11
Eisenhower Says
He'd Have Opposed
Truman Subpoena
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Wontmueo From First Page.)
opened. They kept at it until
President Eisenhower, appearing
somewhat irritated, called halt.
The first questioner asked Gen.
Eisenhower's opinion about the
subpoena served on former Presi-
dent Truman yesterday by the
House Un-American Activities
Committee,
Gen. Eisenhower replied that
he could not say a great deal
about the case.
Some days back, he said, Mr..
Brownell had reported to him
certain facts that had come to
light in his department which he
felt should be brought before the
public.
They concerned. he said, a
man called White whom he (the
President) didn't know anything
about.
Gen. Eisenhower said he ap-
proved the Attorney Generals
suggestion that the facts should
be brought out.
Mr.. Brownell, he said, had told
him that the FBI report on
White had gotten to the White
House. But he did not say that
President Truman had person.
ally seen the report.
Gives Personal Reaction.
Gen. Eisenhower said he did
not intend to be put in the posi-
ton of criticizing Congress in
the conduct of it's business.
However, if the speaker was
interested in his personal reac-
ton, he (Gen. Eisenhower
would not have issued a sub
poena for President Truman.
When the questioning was ex-
tended to the case of Justice
Clark, who was Subpoenaed late
yesterday, President Eisenhower
replied he was not constitu-
tional lawyer but that he prob
ably would not have done it.
Reporters at the conference
pressed Gen. Eisenhower closely
on the implications of the Brow
nell charges. Raymond P.
Brandt of the st. Louis Post
Dispatch demanded to know
whether the branding of a for
mer President as traitor might
be harmful to our foreign rela-
tiohs."
Rejects Premise.
Gen. Eisenhower said he re-
1ected that premise. He did not
believe the statement by the
Attorney General did any such
thing as brand Mr.. Truman as
q traitor.
1t was at this point that the
President said it would be in
conceivable to him that Mr.. Tru-
man would have knowingly
appointed a spy to Office.
Gen. Eisenhower reaffirmed
his belief that the Communist
efforts to inf1ltrate and Subvert
the Government had proceeded .
on many fronts.
Eternal vigilance, he said, was
the price of freedom.
He added, however, that he
thoroughly agreed with those
who say we must be careful how
we apply our powers in combat
ting the threat. We must not
destroy the very. thing we are at
tempting to defend. ~, AF
(Mr. Truman had made such
a point in a speech in New York
last night.)
Gen. Eisenhower disagreed
with suggestion that the full
FBI report, on which Mr..
Brownell based his charges,
should be made public. He said
he did not allow FBI reports to
be shown even to him unless it
was absolutely necessary. It
was most important to protect
confidential informantS of the
bureau, he said.
However, he agreed that the
essentials of the charge GER
tainly should be made public.
Toward the end of the press
conference a dozen reporters were
still on their feet with questions
about the White case.
The President, however, an
nounced abruptly that he would
not discuss the matter further
and the questioning turned