Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-18
Navy 10 Hear
Custer Appeal
By ChdsdnoW
Invitation Is Mailed
To Discharged Chiei
Of Maps Division

The Navy has advised Abra-
ham Chasanow through his at
torney. that he may appear at
his convenience and appeal a
ruling which resulted in his fir
ing after % years of handling
top-Secret maps.
Assistant Secretary j.. H.
Smith told The Star last night
that a letter to that effect was
sent to Mr.. Chasanow yester-
day. soon after the story of his
summary dismissal appeared in
the press.
Mr.. Smith said Mr.. Chasanow
could conceivably be reinstated
in his job if the Security APP
peal Board decided to reverse
its adverse finding after he ap-
peals.
The secretary said he thought
the press had "given the wrong
impression of something which
is being handled in an orderly
and regular manner"
Decision Reversed.
Mr.. Chasanow, who lives at
lit Ridge road, Greenbelt, Md,
was cleared of eight security
charges by a security hearing
board in a unanimous decision
last october. Last week, how
ever, Mr.. Smith advised him that
the Security Appeal Board had
reversed this decision and that
he was fired.
Mr.. Chasanow, a native of
Philadelphia who moved here "a
years ago. had worked with the
Navy photographic Office since
1881. He rose to become chief
of the distribution department,
which handles virtually all Navy
maps, drawing salary of So, 800
per year and supervising a staff
of SO persons.
Last July 20 he was suspended
pending a hearing by the security
hearing board on charges of
associating with known Commu-
nists, reading Communist litera-
ture, contributing to subversive
organizations and of being a
member at one time of the left
wing National Lawyers Guild.
After three days of hearings,
the security hearing board de-
cided he was not a security
risk.
The case went to the appeal
board and from there to Mr..
Smith, Assistant Secretary for
Air, who notified Mr.. Chasanow
of his firing last week.
Joseph Fanelli, Mr.. Chasanow's
lawyer, filed a petition for re-
hearing on Thursday.
The Navy Statement.
Mr.. Smiths statement declared:
The method and procedures
used by the Navy Department in
handling security cases are pre-
scribed by law and executive
order.
I'm carrying these out the
Navy as a matter of policy has
consistently refrained from pub
licizing it's action. in order to
protect the privacy of the in
ooI III 60
THE Navy Department has
not, however, restrained or pro-
hibited any individual who is
subject to a security investiga-
ton from publishing whatever
aspects of the case he wishes, in
whatever manner he wishes.
IN the particular case of
Abraham Chasanow, because of
the publicity already given it.
the Navy now states that the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
for Air last Friday advised Mr..
Chasanow's counsel by letter
that he would hold a hearing at
which Mr.. Chasanow or his
counsel could present reasons for |
reconsidering the decision. The |
date of this hearing is to be
determined by Mr.. ChaSanow's
counsel.
1T is not anticipated that the
Navy will make further COM
ment during the course of this
hearing because of the POSSIBLE
ity of prejudicing the outcome.
although as indicated above the
Navy has no objection to publ
cation by the individual of such
facts as he sees fit"