Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-22


copy Of the transcript.
II the Permanent Subcom-
mittee on Investigations,
chairmaned by Senator Nc
Carthy, calls upon me to APP
pear before it. I will be glad
to do so. Thus far, ] have
not received a formal notifi-
cation to appear. If called, I
thus would urge that the hear
ing, because Of the Importance
of this subject to the Amer
lean people. be open to the
public and to the press.
consider that ! have DEM
onStrated again and again
over the past months my
wholehearted desire to cooper
ate with the Congress in every
way. I consider it not only a
duty but a privilege to be avail
able to the committees Of Con-
gress whenever they may want
me.
Since assuming office I have
made it clear that I intend to
take every necessary action to
rid the Army of subversives
whenever and wherever they
may be found. I have seen to
it that such actions are taken
and win continue to take them
when necessary. I appreciate
the constructive assistance of
congressional committees in
this endeavor and I gladly as
sumo the responsibility as a
member of the executive
branch Of the Government for
seeing that the job is thor
oughly done.
I am confident, at the same
time. that the American peo-
pie do not believe in undwar-
ranted abuse Of our loyal Of
f1cers any more than I do.
Statement for Nee orthy
For the convenience of the
witnesses directed to appear,
the investigating committee
had planned to resume hear
ings in New York on Tuesday.
The investigation concerns
the Army's handling Of the
case Of Maj. Irving Peress. a
fifth-amendment Communist
who was commissioned. pro-
NOTED. saved from overseas
order and awarded an hon.
orable discharge-all despite
an open record Of active mem
bership in the Communist
conspiracy. His commanding
officer. Gen. Zwicker. testified
that his Communist record
was fully known to the Army.
The favorable action in the
case of this fifth-amendment
Communist was stupidity at
best and treason at worst.
Those who committed it are
now being ofiicially shielded
by order Of the Secretary Of
the Army.
For that reason the Secre-
tary has been notified to ap-
pear on Tuesday morning at
1890 am. For the conven-
fence of all concerned, this
hearing will be In Washing
ton. It will be a public hear
ing for two reasons:
One. because of the tremen-
dous Importance to the country
Of the Army's attempt to cod
die and promote Communists
and then claim special i'm
munity from legislative in
vestigation and exposure Of
malefactors: and. two. so that
this issue cannot possibly be
beclouded by unwarranted
complaints that development
of unfavorable facts consti-
tutes abuse Of the witness.
The issue raised by Mr.. Ste
vens is whether the Army is
supreme over the Congress.
other Government agencies
and the American people. and
can enjoy special dictatorial
immunity in covering UP its
own wrongdoings.
An illustration Of this cover
up is the statement under oath
by an officer involved that If
he told the truth and gave the
facts about the treatment Of
this 1ifth-amendment Com
munist. he himself would be
court-martialed by the Army.
do not share Gen. Zwick-
er's concept that an officer who
steals $50 should not receive
an honorable discharge while
1t was proper to give one on
February 2 to Maj. PereSS. a
fifth-amendment Communist
who had dlsgraced his country.