Evening star., 1954-01-13
Army Tightens
Security Probe
OF Civilians
New Order Permits
Broader Investigation
Of Military Workers
By John A. Giles

The Army has frightened its
regulation governing security in.
veStigationS Of civilian workers.
It is the first of the military
services to take such action since
President Eisenhower issued his
overall Government order on
security last April.
The order broadens the list of
circumstances in which appli-
cantS for employment and those
now employed will be subject to
intensive investigations. .
Rules Outlined.
Under the new rules, an en-
ploye will be subject to special
scrutiny for:
l Refusal by the individual on
the grounds of constitutional
privilege against self lf-incrimina-
ton to testify before a congress
sional comm mittee regarding
charges of alleged disloyalty or
other misconduct.
2. Participation in the activi-
ties of any organization "in q
capacity where he should reason
ably have knowledge of it's sub.
versive aims and purposes"
3. Sympathetic association"
with a member of such an or.
ganiZatlon.
4. Currently maintaining q
close association with a person
who has engaged in activities" Of
a group deemed subversive or
diSloyal to the United States.
Such association may be deemed
to exist if the individual lives
at the same premises as, fire.
quently visits, or frequently
communicates with such person"
! 5. Close continuing association
''even though later separated by
distance, if the circumstances
indicate that renewal of the asso-
citation is probable"
| 6. The presence Of a relative
in a nation whose interests may
be inimical to the interests Of
the United States, or in satellites
or occupied areas of such a ma
ton under circumstances per-
mitting coercion or pressure to
be brought on the individual
through such relatives"
7. Wilful violation or disre-
gard of security regulations.
8. Acts of reckless. ire
sponsible or wanten nature
which indicate such poor judg-
ment and instability as to sug-
| gest" the individual might dis
close security informatio n
whether deliberately or inad-
vertently."
Signed by Ridgway.
The Army previously had based
it's standards on points ranging
from sabotage, espionage and
treason to sympathetic interest
in totalitarism, Fascist. Com
munist or similar subversive
movements. All those were re-
tained in the new order signed
by Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway.
Chief of Staff.
The ultimate determination
of whether employment or reten-
ton in employment is clearly
consistent with the interests of
national security must be an
overall common sense one based
on all available information" it
stated.
To assure that the minimum
investigative requirements Of
President Eisenhower's executive
order are met son all personnel
employed on or before last May
q, ali installations were directed
to review the personnel and in
vestigative files of every employe.
The reviews must be completed
by April 30.
Should there develop at any
stage information Indicating that
the employment of any person
may not be clearly consistent
with the interests of the national
security, the investigation will be
extended to determine
whether or not retention of such
a person is clearly consistent with
the interests of national Secur.
ity," the order said.
The order also announced that
henceforth Army personnel would
not sit on the cases involving
Army employees except in isolated
areas. Hearing boards convened
ito hear cases of employees Of
the Army establishment will be
composed of personnel of the
Department of Defense, Navy and
Air Force" it stated. The De-
partment of Justice has agreed
to this procedure, it said.
Security review boards will no
longer call the employe as a
witness. Instead. they will re-
view the entire file and make
their recommendations to the
Soorntorv of tho Arv,ou fov R~oI