Evening star., 1954-03-11
Mccarthy Reyiyes
Wartime Army ()rdeI
Concerning Reds

Senator Mccarthy. Republi-
can, Of Wisconsin has gone back
to an Army order issued in 1914
and rescinded in 1916 in an ef-
fort to support his charges Of
"softness" toward Communists
in the armed services.
He told reporters that the
order, issued In the midst of
World War II, resulted in ''un-
desirables" getting into the
Army. He made the comment
after saying that Defense Sec
retary Wilson, with whom he
had a luncheon meeting yester-
day. and, Army Secretary Ste
vens, with whom he has been
feuding. had been diligent in
trying to get rid Of Communists.
Senator Mccarthy referred to
the document as the "McCloy
order" of 1914. Available rec
ords bearing on the document
showed no order signed by an
official named McCloy. However.
John ]. McCloy was an Assistant
Secretary Of War from 1941 to
1945.
Attack on. McClOy.
Last month Senator Mccarthy
charged in q speech that Mr..
McCloy as high commissioner
in Germany under the Demo-
Gratis had issued an order for
the destruction Of all Army in
telligence files on Communists.
Mr.. McCloy, now chairman Of
the board of the Chase National
Bank. branded the charge "fan-
tastically false"
Three days later Senator Nc
Carthy said SarcaStically that he
wanted to apologize to Mr.. Nc
Cloy for the charge. What Mr..
McCloy did do, he said, twas
order that there be no dis
elimination against members of
the Communist Party seeking
commissions"
Loyalty Order in 1914.
The 1914 order pointed out
that questions had arisen as to
membership in the Communist
Party by personnel and stated
that membership alone was not
to be taken as a basic consider
alton in assessment of individual
loyalty.
It said an individuals opinion
as to his loyalty to the United
States and membership in and
strict adherence to the Commu-
mist Party should be taken into
consideration in determining
whether an individual is subject
to influences which may tend to
divide his loyalty. It then point
ed out: However, many good
soldiers are subject to conflict
ing Influences" >" and said the
loyalty of each person should be
appraised in the light of his
entire record.
The signature on this letter
was that of Brig. Gen. Robert H.
Dunlop. acting adjutant general.
Records show that on March 4,
1946. the instructions contained
in the letter were reScinded by
another letter to all commands,
signed by Mai. Gen. Edward F.
WitSell.
Feared Escape Corridor"
In February, 1945. Maj. Gen.
j. A. Julio. the adjutant general,
wrote long letter in reply to
questions by Representative
Dondero. Republican. Of Michi-
gan. citing the problems raised
by the requirements of selective
service and provisions of the
Hatch Act barring from service
persons who hold membership In
any political party or organiza-
ton advocating overthrow of the
Government.
Gen. Julio wrote that this pro-
vision could provide an escape
corridor" for men seeking to
avoid service. The Hatch Act,
he also contended, did not refer
to persons "of Communist ideol-
ogy who were not members of
the Communist Party"
The War Department, wrote
Gen. Julio. therefore adopted a
policy suitable for the war
emergency" which. among other
things, specified that known fol-
lowers Of the Communist Party
line were to be excluded from
sensitive duties and from becom-
ing commissioned officers"
Gen. Julio, near the end Of
his letter, said: This matter
is not q closed issue in the War
Department: The application of
this procedure will be watched
with great care and it will be
modified as may be shown nee
essary in the light of experience
or in the light of changed con-
ditionS."