Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-14
The Political Min
Corsi Case PROVING
Difficult for COP.
ItoIiun-Americun Vote
In New York at Stake
BY GOULD LINCOLN

BY GOULD LINCOLN
The Corsi case has been blown up
into a political dust storm which Is
frankly giving Republican leaders con-
Germ. Republican National Chairman
Leonard w. Hall is trying hard to sift
the dust and bring satisfactory end
ing to the story of the row between
Secretary Of State Dulles and Edward
J. Corsi The Italian-American vote. q
big vote in New York and in other
States, Is, rightly or wrongly. supposed
to be at stake. Republican leaders in
three StateS-other than New York
have expressed their concern to the
G. O. r. National Committee. The
Democrats are doing their best. on the
other hand, to fan the flames OF con-
troversy They understand quite well
that the italian vote In New York and
other States went strongly for Presi-
dent Eisenhower In 1852. They recall,
too, how the italian vote in Massa-
chusetts turned against the Democratic
candidate for Governor there. after
Senator John F. Kennedy declined to
support the Democratic candidate for
Senator, Foster Furcolo They are
anxious to get the Italian vote back
into the Democratic fold.
Tough Situation
Admittedly the situation which con-
fronts the Republican National Chair
man is tough one. Secretary Of State
Dulles has defended his declination to
retain Mr.. Corsi further as an adviser
on the administration Of the refugee
immigration program-or to permit
him to administer the program. He
said that the appointment Of Mr.. Corsi
was for specific purpose-to report
on the administration of the act-and
that the report had been made. He
pointed out that under the law, the
administration of the program must
be handled by Scott Mcleod. who
holds the post OF director of the State
Departments Bureau of Security and
Consular Affairs. Mr.. Dulles has de-
MED fatty that any question Of
security" entered his decision regard
ing Mr.. Corsi-that the file on Mr..
Corsi contains nothing against him as
a security risk. The controversy with
Mr.. Corsi, Mr.. Dulles said, grew out of
the fact that Mr.. Corsi insisted he
should continue to work in connection
with the refugee program-although
Mr.. Dulles was willing to find him some
other work to do.
From other sources it is learned
that Mr.. Corsi talked too much and
too often during his service as adviser
on the refugee program-so much so
that our diplomatic representatives
ahrnad nnYtayaIofy1al H,
statements, made without consultation
with them. Mr.. Corsi for his part
has accused the Secretary of State of
uttering falsehoods. He has also COM
planned bitterly that the refugee pro-
gram is being handled by people
without sympathy for the relief pro-
gram. and that it is far behind the
goal which has been set.
Politicians Indignant
Rightly or wrongly, the Corsi Dulles
controversy has caused an outpouring
of indignation on the part of political
leaders in New York. Gov. Hartman
and Senator Lehman, New York DEM
ocrats. have denounced the firing Of
Mr.. Corsi. On the Republican side,
Jacob K. Javits, attorney general, has
rushed to the defense of Mr.. Corsi.
Representative Heating has asked for
a congressional investigation. At the
start Of the controversy. the newspaper
reports linked the firing of Mr.. Corsi
to the attacks made on him by Repre-
sentative Walter, Pennsylvania Demo-
crat and chairman of the House CONF
mittee on Un-American Activities, in
vrytSS Hr EY4I n1an
with having been member of Com
munist-front organizations. So much
so, that it was made to appear Mr..
CorSi was turned out because of se-
curity reasons, which Mr.. Dulles and
others have emphatically denied That
issue, along with the charge that the
firing of Mr.. Corsi meant the refugee
relief program would not be liber-
ally administered, is responsible for
much of the uproar. The immediate
and caustic remarks of Senator Leh-
man, who comes up for reelection
next year, is interpreted to mean he will
seek denomination. Both Mr.. Javits and
Mr.. Heating are potential Republican
candidates for the Lehman Senate
seat. Indeed. it has been said that
ASAAs O0FAto SaAA A1dbS tilC IL
he wants to enter the Senate race
What the final political effect, If any.
the Corsi matter will have on the elec-
lions next year it is far too early to
say. Secretary Dulles is himself New
York Republican. So the controversy
is family affair for the Republicans
in the Empire State Mr.. Corsi has
been Republican candidate for Sem
ator and Mayor of New York City. He
was badly defeated. In some quarters
1t is predicted that success or lack of
success in administering the refugee
relief program will have more influence
on the elections than the personal af-
fairs Of Mr.. Corsi. President Eisen-
hover is in no way involved In the
controversy. If he is the Republican
presidential candidate. the ticket in
New York will be strengthened. In
the meantime. Chairman Hall will
move to bring peace.