Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-11
.SpyCase Peril
Cited on Bill 10
Guard FbI Files

Speculation described by the
Justice Department as purely
hypothetical" that the Govern
ment might abandon spy
charges against Col. Rudolph
Ivanovich Abel caused two
prominent House Republicans
yesterday to urge enactment of
legislation limiting disclosure of
FBI files.
House Republican Leader
Martin warned that If Congress
adjourns without passing a bill
of that kind I'VE will have Grip
pied the Government in its
prosecution of Abel, the So
called master spy. and will be
responsible for the non-prose-
cution of many other similar
cases."
He called upon the Demo-
cratic leadership to bring a bill
to the House floor this week.
Need Held Urgent
Representative Heating, Re-
publican of New York, who
sponsored such a measure re-
ported out by the Judiciary
Committee several weeks ago.
said the immediate problem is
to blast" the bill out of the
Rules Committee. He said he
was assured that the four Re-
publicans on that eight-mem-
Der committee favored clearing
1t for House action.
II can think of no legislation
whose need is more urgent"
he said. IF Congress adjourns
without passing this bill the
result is bound to be that be-
tween now and January many
criminals and subversives will
walk out of Jail scott free"
These comments grew out
of unofficial reports that the
Government might drop spy
charges against RusSian-born
Col. Abel rather than open
FBI files for defense inspec-
ton at his trial. Abel was ar
rested in Texas last week and
flown to Brooklyn, where he
was indicted on charges of
spying for the Soviet. At his
arraignment he was described
as the head of a most elab-
crate and intricate espionage
ring
Pure Speculation
In view Of the Supreme Court
defense last June in the
Jencks case upholding defense
demands for inspection of per-
tinent FBI files. there was
speculation in some quarters
yesterday that the Government
might be gravely handicapped
in the Abel prosecution.
A Justice Department spokeS-
man commented that it was
lust speculation and purely
hypothetical at this point" to
say the Government will not
prosecute Abel because of the
Supreme Court ruling.
Mr.. Heating said yesterday
that even the possibility" of
failure to prosecute Abel would
shock the country" Such
speculation. he remarked. pre-
sumably arose in connection
with the Jencks case decision.
In any event l hope the
Abel case will dramatically
point up the Importance of
passing my bill to limit access
to FBI files" he said. IF every
paper in the country would ex-
plain what the bill does and
how necessary it is. those now
sitting on their hands would
be compelled to act. ! COM
mend The Washington Star
for editorials which focused at
tention on the dangers in
herent in keeping this bill in
the Rules Committee deep
freeze"
Pertinency Stressed
The Heating bill would not
prevent defendants from exam
lining pertinent material previ-
ously given to the FBI by wit
nesSes at trials. But 1t would
have Federal judges pass on
the pertinency Of such material
before letting defendants in
spect 1t to determine whether
it affected the credibility of
witnesses.
House Democratic leaders
have not disclosed whether they
will call up the bill before ad-
Iournment. Soon after it was
reported out by the Judiciary
Committee. however. they indi-