Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-27
Benson Admits
Security Error
On LadeGjinsky
Comedies Question
Should Not Have
Been Injected
BY L. EDGAR PRINA

riculture erred in raising a secur-
ity question about Wolf Lade-
jinSky.
Testifying before q Senate
Civil Service subcommittee at
his own request. the Secretary
asserted he had adjudged the
Russian-born land reform expert
as unqualified for the position
of agricultural attache because
he lacked the background in
American farming.
Henry Edens, a subcommittee
counsel, then inquired: Wasn't
the security tag gratuitous and
unnecessary II he was disquali-
fed technically anyway
Eyes. we realize that now
looking back. it probably would
have been best not to inject the
security question" Mr.. Benson
replied.
First Saw Security Issue
The Secretary said he first
learned there was q security
consideration in the Ladejinsky
case from stories he read in the
press.
He testified he had personally
reviewed the State Departments
file on Mr.. Ladejinsky and later
discussed the matter only in a
general way with the President. I"
He said that, at the time, he
urged Mr.. Eisenhower ito cause
q review to be made Of our Sc
curity procedures.
Mr.. Ladejins<y was hired by
the Foreign Operations Admins
tration a few weeks after Agri-
culture declined to re-employ
him when the posts of agricul-
tural attaches were turned back
to Mr.. Benson's department from
the State Department. He is now
working on land problems in
South Wet Nam.
Was Considered Applicant
Mr.. Benson stated that Mr..
Ladejinsky never was presented
with formal charges or given a
hearing because he was conSid-
cred to be an applicant for a
job.
The Secretary stoutly defended
his security ofiicer, ]. Glen Cas-
sity. who made the original eval-
uation Of Mr.. Ladejinsky. After
citing Mr.. Cassity's experience as
an attorney and in Army Intel
ligence and security during
World War II, Mr.. Benson said:
Il am sure he Is conscientious
and q man Of integrity"
After Mr.. Benson left the
stand. Chairman Johnston an
nounced that Milan D. Smith,
the Secretary's executive assist
ant, and Mr.. Classify would not
be called to testify
Would Withhold Reasons
Albert Pratt, Assistant Seere-
tary of the Navy, told newsmen
after he completed his testimony
before the subcommittee today
that Abraham Chasanow should
not have been given copy Of
the reasons the Security Review
Board considered him to be a
risk.
He said that any employee is
entitled to know the decisions Of
the hearing board and the review
panel and is given a transcript
of the hearing upon request. But,
he added. the reasons for either
boards decision are withheld
from the accused.
James H. Smith. IT.. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Air,
was questioned closely on the Jo-
seph Gaberrlan case. Mr.. Ga
herman was q civilian psychol-
ogist at the Nays special de-
vices center on Long Island when
he was dismissed on loyalty
grounds in 1852.
Committee Counsel Paul Had
lick asked Mr.. Smith how it
was possible that Mr.. Gaberman
was still a naval reserve officer
in good standing If the Navy
considered him to be undesirable
as q civilian employe.
Mr.. Smith explained that the
decision on Mr.. Gaberman' s
civilian employment was made
under the old Truman program.
He said that former Undersecre-
tary Of the Navy Francis White
hair made the ruling. A year
later. he said. II reviewed the
civilian case and came to the
decision that because it was very
marginal 1t was possible to con-
tinue him as an inactive reserve
officer without any risk to the
country