Evening star., 1954-05-20

Gen. Eisenhower then - some
time soon after February 90
that II suspected he was not
getting all the facts" about the
row then simmering.
At his request, Senator Nc
Carthy said, his friend Victor
Johnson telephoned the White
House to arrange an appoint
ment. He said Mr.. johnson, di-
rector of the Republican Sena-
torial Campaign Committee.
talked to Maj. Gen. Wilton B.
(Jerry) Persons, legislative liai-
son aide at the White House.
Gen. Persons agreed to ring
them back if he lined up the ap-
pointment, Mccarthy said. but
"he hasn't called back yet"
Asked whether he regarded this
as presidential "snub." Sena-
tor Mccarthy replied, mo, he's
a busy man."
Hagerty Comments.
Asked today about Senator
McCArthy's claim, White House
Press Secretary James c. Hagerty
told reporters, II know of no
request by the Senator at that
time for an appointment with
the President"
Mr.. Hagerty's remark did not
rule out the kind of indirect ap-
proach which Senator Mccarthy
said he made. Mr.. Hagerty said,
however, that when a Senator
desires an appointment with the
President, it is the usual prac-
tice" for the request to be made
by the Senator or some one in
his office
MIR. Stevens statement accept
ing full responsibility for the
charges against Senator McCar-
thy was in response to the Sem
ator's suggestions they might
have been "instigated" at a jan
uary 81 conference of Attorney
General Brownell and top Presi-
Dental advisers.
"At no time did the Army or
I, as its Secretary, receive any
orders from any one in respect
to the preparation or presenta-
ton of the Army's case," Secre-
tary Stevens said yesterday.
Senator Mundt and several
other committee members said
Mr.. Stevens explanation filled
in the gap left by Gen. Eisen-
hower's order against any fur
ther testimony on a high-level
meeting at the Justice Depart
ment January 81 or on any other
talks strictly within the admin
istration.
Senator Mccarthy said he was
not satisfied with the Stevens
statement. adding in obvious
reference to Gen. Eisenhower's
refusal to modify the order that
he felt "the White House made
a great mistake"
Order Discussed.
Senator Mundt called the SUBJ
committee together to discuss
what he said were cloudy
areas" in the scope Of the presi-
dental order against testimony
on confidential conversations
and communications within the
executive department.
Senator Mundt said Mr..
Brownell felt the Eisenhower di-
rective should preclude the use
as evidence in the hearings Of
any monitored or recorded phone
talks concerning the case among
officials Of the executive branch,
but that 1t would not preclude
the use Of recordings Of CONVEX
sations between principals on
the two sides" of the controversy.
The Army has furnished the
subcommittee with transcripts of
some calls between principals in
the case. Senator Mccarthy has
said that If any of these are Of
fered in evidence, all Of them
should be introduced in chrono-
logical order.
The four Republicans on the
subcommittee said yesterday
they have signed statements
consenting to the introduction
in evidence Of any monitored
telephone conversations they
may have had with Pentagon
officials about the case.
Two Democratic members,
Senators Mcclellan Of Arkansas
and Jackson of washington. said
they had not. Presumably this
also was true of the seventh
subcommittee member. Senator
Symington, Democratic, Of Mis-
souri,.
Senator Mcclellan said that
before he signed such a waiver.
he wanted to know If all parties
to the controversy were going to
agree to admit into evidence all
monitored calls pertinent to the
inquiry.