‘Mush Hush’ Codes Known Overseas

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 7

‘Mush Hush’ Codes Known Overseas

WASHINGTON, ’ Wed.—The documents found in a pumpkin on the farm of Mr Whittaker Chambers furnish indisputable evidence that the State Department’s most “hush hush” codes were known to a foreign nation oxnations, at least during 1937 and 1938 and probably for longer, says the New York Herald-Tribune’s correspondent. “This period barely preceded the Hitler-Stalin non-aggression pact of 1939,” the correspondent adds. "A justifiable inference is that the Soviet knew the codes and perhaps entered into the pact with a full knowledge of American strength and weaknesses. "A possible inference is that Russia communicated the codes to Germany and even to Japan. WASHINGTON FLABBERGASTED “These cyclonic revelations —and the adjective is not used loosely—have left official Washington flabbergasted and in a mood to take the inquiry of the un-American Activities Committee of the House of Representatives moi'C seriously.” Mr Chambers, self-confessed former Communist spy-courier, told the Pi’ess today that he did hid microfilms of documents in a pumpkin shell on his farm because he believed investigators foi Mr Alger Hiss had “been around the farm several times within the last month.” Mr Chambers had accused Mr Hiss, a former State Department official of taking documents for a Russian secret agent. Mr Hiss has filed a libel suit against Mr Chambers. CLOSED SESSION Botlx Mr Chambers and Mr Hiss testified today in a closed session of the Federal Grand Jury which is investigating Communism and espionage. Mr Sumner Wells, former Undersecretary of State, when testifying today before the un-American Activities Committee, said that publication of some of the documents found on Mr Chambers’ farm would be “prejudicial to the nation’s interests.”