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ET ia ee ++ pee ete ant 402.6 The Attormey General You will recall that in my memorandun of August 5, 1946, I strongly recommended that appropriate legislation to correct the lack of statutory back= ing for the detention of parsons dangerous to the security of the United States be prepared for submission either to a special session of Congress, which might be called in the event of such emsrgenoy, or to the regular session whioh con= vened in January 197. Since that time, not only has the intemational situation become more tense, but the Communists in the United States have in- creased their efforts to penetrate those fields of our industry, i.e., machine building, transportation and electrical squipment, where acts of sabotage would be most dangerous to our defense. I again urge that appropriate lercis=- lation be in readiness, at least, for the next session of Congress. Should hostilities commence with a "sneak attack" arainst the United States by either atomic or bacteriological weapons, Congressional enactment of such a program might thereafter be physically impossible, or, at least, too late. I feel, as I am sure you do, that neither the Departnent nor the Bureau oan afford to delay in such planning as this any lenger. Consequently, I urge you to give this problem your immediate consideration. JI particularly urge you to consider the issuance of definite and specific instructions as to prescedure which shall be followed in the event of an emergency involving the United States and the Soviet Union, and that those individuals responsible for the carrying out of such procedure be appropriately instructed without delay. I would also appreciate your informing this Bureau of any developments affecting relations batween this country and the Soviet Union which come to your attention as a Cabinet Officer which would have any material bearing upon this Bureau's responsibilities, so that I, in turn, can advise and instruct our field representatives. , °