Evening star., 1955-03-12
Probers 10 Consider
Requiring Informants
To Face Defendants
By J. v. Horner

The question OF whether ac-
cusing informants should be re-
quired to confront the individ-
uals they accuse in Government
security cases will be further
aired next week by Senate in
vestigators.
Senator Humphrey, Democrat.
of Minnesota. said yesterday his
Government Operations subcom-
mittee plans to recall William F.
Tompkins. Justice Department
security chief. to explore the
proposition. Mr.. Tompkins tes-
titled this week that such con-
frontation in formal hearings
would help Communists ham,
string the FBI's present inform
ant system.
The subcommittee has sched-
uled another meeting Monday to
follow up its examination OF
Scott Mcleod, head of the State
Department security section.
Sharp Questioning
Mr.. Mcleod underwent sharp
questioning yesterday by men,
bers of the subcommittee and its
counsel. Harold P. Green.
He said. among other things.
that he would not hesitate to
hire a security risk as a State
Department employe if that in
dividual was the only man quail
ified to execute a special and
necessary job.
Mr.. Mcleod explained he
would not take such step if
other qualified persons were
available. But he said the State
Department policy is not to be
so secure that it can't get essen
tial jobs done.
He offered this hypothetical
example: Suppose the depart
ment needed a task performed
by a man who had knowledge of
an obscure language or had spe-
cial information about a remote
geographical area. The only man
found available is security risk.
Mr.. Mcleod said the man
might be employed for the mis-
sion but precautions would be
taken to screen him from other
department activity Of sensl-
tive nature. He said, however, he
could not recall any hirings of
the sort.
Davies Case Recalled
Mr.. McLeod's testimony on the
point caused some observers to
recall one of the controversies
involving career diplomat John
Patton Davies. who was dismissed
from the Foreign Service last
year for lack of judgment"
Mr.. Davies was accused of
having recommended that the
Central Intelligence Agency en-
ploy three Communists for cer-
tain duties. The diplomat in
sisted, however, that he recon-
mended these people be "uti-
lized" by CIA. He denied pro-
posing that they be employed.
Testifying yesterday. Mr.. Nc
Leod said he considered a secur-
ity risk to be a person, who prob
ably would. or possibly would,
violate security. le
Ladejinsky Case.
The discussion arose when
Senator Humphrey asked Mr.
Mcleod how the security clear
ance of Wolf Ladejinsky by the
State Department and Foreign
Operations Administration. could
be reconciled with the Agricul-
ture Department decision that
Mr.. Ladejinsky was security
risk.
Mr.. Ladejinsky was fired by
Agriculture while serving as
land reform expert in Tokyo. The
action was assailed and FOA
subsequently gave him a job in
South Wet Nam.
In answer to the question, Mr..
Mcleod told the Senate probers
there are "variables" in the Sc
curity programs of different Gov
ernment departments. He said
while an individual may be a
risk for a sensitive job in one
department. he may be accept
able for assignment elsewhere.
Senator Humphrey indicated
interest in uniform security pro-
cedures, particularly some me-
thod permitting an accused per-
son to correct record contain