The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-10-04

cation Of the State Departments
move to discredit and Gust Otto
Otepka, 48. chief of the evalua-
ton division in the departments
Office Of Security.
In digging into the Otepka
case. the Senate probers have
uncovered a backstage effort
within the State Department to
clear the way for a number Of
former secutiy risks, including
Alger Hiss, to worm their way
back onto the governments pay
roll as either employees or con-
sultants.
According to sworn testimony
before the subcommittee, one Of
the central figures in this ma
neuvering is Harlan Cleveland.
Assistant Secretary of State for
International Affairs.
Cleveland touched off the bit
ter security row within the de-
partment by appointing a num-
Der of persons with questionable
security backgrounds to an adj
visory committee to study the
stating of Americans on inter-
national organizations.
According to the testimony,
Cleveland also made inquiries
as to whether it would be posi-
BILE to bring Hiss, former State
Department official convicted of
perjury to conceal espionage,
back into the department.
Otepka, one of the depart
ments outstanding security Of
ficers, was SO shocked over
Clevelands activities that he
sert a series of blistering re-
ports to his superiors. including
one that was routed through
channels to McGeorge Bundy,
the Presidents chief Whit e
House adviser on foreign policy.
One Of these reports included
a detailed box score Of per
sons with questionable security
background that Cleveland had
either brought into the depart
ment or was in the process Of
trying to obtain job clearances
for.
THE BIG BLOW-UP = When
the State Departments daisy
chain tipped off Cleveland that
he was being watched. he re-
taiated swiftly by having John
F. Reilly. Deputy Assistant Sec
rotary for Security. place Otep-
ka under surveillance. This was
quietly arranged through the Of
flee Of Attorney General Robert
Kennedy, a personal friend Of
Reilly.
With quiet but ruthless effici-
ency, Otepka was then removed
from security operations. Hi S
phone was bugged and he was
placed under close observation
after it was learned that Senate
investigators h a d questioned
him, under subpoena, about Sc
curlty risks in the department.
Charges of misconduct. in
Volving the alleged turning over
OF documents to the Senate sub
committee, were filed against
Otepka on Sept. % by John Ord
way. chief of the Personnel OPP
erations Division. Otepka was
given until Thursday. Oct 8. 10
answer, but his attorney, Robert
Robb, secured a Today extern
sion.
According to the State Depart
ments own confidential report,
most of the evidence upon which
the charges are based came
from Rellly's surreptitiouns *
animation of Otepkas classified
trash bag, in which he placed
security material and other pa
pers for destruction.
The undercover methods that
State Department security Off
GERS used in their surveillance Of
Otepka are highlighted in the
report, as follows:
During the period March 10,
1868, to June Is, 1868, John F.
Reilly, Deputy Assistant Secre-
tary for Security, caused the fol-
lowing procedure to be insti-
tuted.
Mrs. Joyce M. Schneider,
secretary to Frederick w. Ira
band. Supervisory Personnel Sc
curlty Specialist, periodically OBJ
served (Otepka) classified trash
bag hereinafter referred to as
burn bag which was in the
possession of cOtepka secre-
tary, Mrs. Eunice Powers. Mrs.
Schneider and Mrs. Powers
We're located in the same room
and across from one another.
when Mrs. Schneider saw
that 'Otepka burn bag was full.
she would ask Mrs. Powers if
she wanted her Mrs. Schmel
zer) to take the bag to a De-
partment Mail Room with Mr..
Traband's.
When Mrs. Powers accepted
Mrs. Schmelzers offer, she
would inform Mr.. Traband of
this fact. Mr.. Traband would
then call Mr.. Rosatti, Super
vlsory Security Specialist, or
Mr.. Shea, Supervisory General
Investigator, if Mr.. Rosetti was
not available, and inform him