PAPERS TO BE WITHHELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 133, 17 March 1948, Page 3

PAPERS TO BE WITHHELD

MR TRUMAN’S ORDER TO DEPARTMENTS

WASHINGTON. Mar. 15. President Truman ordered Federal agencies to-day to refuse to let Congress or the Courls have any secret papery bearing oil the loyalty oi Government employees. By doing so he set up what may become a major test between Ihc Government’s executive and legislative branches, in which (lie refeny* would be thethirdbranch — the .1 udieiary. Mr Truman's order was prompted by the case of Dr. Edward Condon, Director of the National Bureau of Standards. who, according to a. sub-commit-tee, was associated knowingly or unknowingly with alleged Russian spies. Dr. Condon disputed ibis and denied that be was any risk to the nation’s atomic security. The Un-American Activities Committee of the House of Representatives has tried, and failed, to get the papers used by a Commerce Department “loyalty board” which approved Dr. Condon for his high scientific post. In bis order. Mr Truman said it was necessary in the interests ‘of national security and welfare to preserve the confidential character and the sources of information furnished, and to protect Government personnel against the dissemination of unfounded or disproved allegations.