Evening star., 1954-05-06
Mccarthy Charges
Secretary Stevens
Changed Testimony
CONTINUED From First Page.)


my staff"
In his changed testimony, the
Secretary said he met with 81
persons in his Office on that oc-
casion and reported to them the
results of the luncheon meeting
which sought to resolve a dis
pute between the Army and
Senator Mccarthy over Army
witnesses ordered to appear for
questioning. The memorandum
was regarded then as a "capitu-
lation" by Mr.. Stevens to Nc
Carthy demands.
Among those at the confer
ence, the Secretary said were
Roger NJ Keyes, then Under
Secretary of Defense; Assistant
Secretary of Defense H. Struve
Hensel; Assistant Secretary of
Defense Fred Seaton; John G.
Adams. Army counselor; Gen.
Matthew Ridgway. Army Chief
of Staff, and several other gen.
erals.
Quick Mccarthy Challenge.
Senator Mccarthy quickly
jumped on the Secretary's
change of testimony and asked
if Mr.. Stevens had learned that
last night and this morning in
vestigating Senators questioned
two witnesses who testified you
were not telling the truth"
rs that why you decided to
change your testimony" Sena-
tor Mccarthy asked.
Mr.. Stevens: 1T is not"
Senator Mccarthy asked the
secretary if he had learned, be-
fore changing his testimony,
that two witnesses had been
questioned about the meeting. .
Il did not" Mr.. Stevens re-
piled.
Senator Mccarthy said Mr..
Seaton was the person Ques-
toned in a closed meeting this
morning and that a newspaper
man was the witness last night
He did not reveal the name of
the neWSman, but it was learned
from other sources that it was
James ReSton of the New York
Times Washington bureau.
Who prepared the statement
you just gave?" Senator Nc
Carthy asked.
Stevens and counsel" the
Secretary answered.
Senator Mccarthy wanted to
know if MI. Stevens counsel,
Joseph N. Welch of Boston, had
informed him that the two wit
nesses had been questioned
about the Pentagon meeting.
He did not" Mr.. Stevens
said.
Tries to Call WeIch.
Senator Mccarthy said the
matter involved what on the
face appears to be perjury" and
sought to have Mr.. Welch sworn
as witness. He was overruled
by Chairman Mundt. Repub-
lican, Of South Dakota, despite
the Wisconsin Republican in
sistence that this was IAN i'm
portant question" involving
perjury Oh subornation of
perjury"
Mr.. Stevens insisted during
further cross examination that
he realized after his earlier testi-
mony, last Monday, that he was
mistaken, and had informed his
counsel that he wished to correct
what he had said.
"a ny sought to
show that out of the Pentagon
meeting on that occasion grew
the idea Of the Army'S charges
that he and two of his sub
committee aideS-Chief Counsel
Roy Cohn and Staff Director
Francis Carr used improper
pressureS to obtain special treat
ment for Pvt. G. David Schine,
former subcommittee consultant.
In answering these charges,
Senator Mccarthy accused Mr..
Stevens and Mr.. Adams of using
"blackmail' tactics in trying to
stop their Investigations of al
legged Communist infiltration in
the Army.
Tells Of Work on Report.
Mr.. Stevens denied this and
said the Army report was not
discussed at the meeting.
He also denied ordering the
Army report put out" How
ever. he acknowledged that it
was under preparation before
Senator Potter wrote Secretary
of Defense Wilson asking for a
report on whether presSures
were exerted in behalf of Pvt.
Schine.
The Potter request was made
on March 9.
Senator Mccarthy inquired if
portions of the Army report were
handed to certain newspapermen
before it was sent to Senator
Potter and other members of
Congress.
Mr.. Stevens said he had heard
rumorS to that effect, had talked
with Mr.. Adams about them and
that Mr.. Adams had told him
that while he had talked with
one newspaperman he hads not
disclosed any part of the report.
At Senator McCarthy's in
Sistence, Mr.. Stevens conferred
with Mr.. Adams and then identi-
fled the newspaperman as colum-
mist Joseph Alsop,
Senator McClellan's motion
to send the transcripts to the
Justice Department was followed
by the reading of the oath taken
by intelligence officers. Senator
Symington read the oath and
then commented on a letter
which Senator Mccarthy intro
duced at yesterdays hearing
which told of alleged Communist
inf1ltration at Fort Monmouth.
Forgery, Senator Says.