Evening star., 1954-09-08
Lawfon Declines
To Give Testimony
On Gen. zwicker

On Gen. zwicker
Continued From First Page.)
Mccarthy asked Gen. Zwicker,
who was seated among the spec
tators with two other Army OH
GERS, II he knew whether Maj.
Peress had access to confidential
files at Camp Kilmer. When Gen.
Zwicker said he did not know.
he was requested by Senator Nc
Carthy to find out and to give
the information at the executive
session later in the day.
Barred by Directive.
Senator Mccarthy also wanted
to know whether Maj. PereSs had
been considered for any "sensi-
tive work" Gen. Zwicker waS
quoted as saying "even II I did
know I would not be privileged to
tell you because Of the Presi-
dents directive"
Senator Mccarthy replied that
"you will be in difficulty II you
refuse to tell us what sensitive
work Peress was being con-
sidered for" Mr.. Harding con-
tinued.
Mr.. Harding said he was
seated a few feet from Gen.
Zwicker and as the general sat
down "his head passed within
IL to IA inches Of my head and
I heard him distinctly mutter
under his breath, you s. o. B."
Mr.. Harding said that Gen.
Zwicker then turned to the two
fellow officers seated at his
right, whom he identified as
colonies, and said:
"You see, I told you this is
what we'd get"
Chairman Watkins Of the six
man special Senate committee
conducting the censure inquiry
recessed the fifth day Of public
hearings after little more than
an hour to hold a closed session
to consider the problem raised
by Gen. Lawton's actions in de-
clining to answer the questions.
He had no comment after the
one-hour closed session.
Mr.. Williams had Gen. Law
ton called as the first witness
and within a few minutes the
general had said he must decline
to testify because of the Presi-
dental directive.
Before his refusal, Mr.. Will
liams asked If he knew Gen.
Zwicker.
ST do" Gen. Lawton replied.
did you have a conversation
with Gen. Zwicker at Camp Kill
mer?" Mr.. Williams asked.
"I did," Gen. Lawton said,
adding that it was in late No
vember or early December during
the Mccarthy subcommittee's in
vestigation Of alleged Communist
inflltration of the Army.
Asked About Conversation.
MIR. Williams asked Gen. Law
ton If he had q conversation with
Gen. zwicker regarding Senator
Mccarthy and his investigations.
81 will have to respectfully de-
cline to answer" Gen. Lawton
replied. citing the Eisenhower
May II directive.
Mr.. Williams asked if he re-
ferred to Gen. Eisenhower's let
ter to Secretary Wilson and Gen.
Lawton replied, "That is correct"
""Will you tell us with whom
you talked about this since Mon
day ,night?" Mr.. Williams asked.
II must Decline" Gen. Law
ton said, giving the same grounds.
Mr.. Williams asked if Gen.
Lawton had conferred with any
one yesterday in the Army or
Defense Department. Gen. Law
ton replied that he sought
counsel in various areas"
Mr.. Williams asked if the gen.
eral had consulted with Mr..
Brucker.
II must respectfully decline to
answer" Gen. Lawton replied.
In response to other questions,
Gen. Lawton acknowledged he
had conferred with Army and
Defense Department lawyers and
added that lone is right here"
Legal Aide With Him.
The general was accompanied
by John E. Pernice, chief Of the
legal division in the Office of the
chief of the Army Signal Corps.
did you tell me the substance
of your conversation with Gen,
zwicker on Monday night?" Mr.
Williams asked.
EYES," Gen. Lawton replied.
Then Mr.. Williams, addressing
the committee, charged that the
Defense Department had resortsd
to "gagging" Gen. Lawton and
that the witness was unable to
respond to questions on the basis
of incompetent advice or advice
that is not given in good faith"
Mr.. Williams contended that
the Presidential directive in the
May II letter related only to the
Army-McCarth hearings and the
LOST.
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