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ee i ll cll a . ae gl ci me, ll . — - : = : me te , ar C . Ct ~ r = BEFO UBCOMMITTEE OF TH COMMITEE OF serra aaa, 3:30 P.M, - , In the 26 years during which I have been privileged to serve as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I have alwaye maintained the view that if we were to fully discharge the serious reeponsibilities imposed upon us, the confidential character of our files must be inviolate. nr a gga ge a eae 4 cardinal principle of succesa for any agency having a responsibility for investigationa ts ites ability to secure information. To do that, it must be able to maintain confidences. Any person furnishing information must have the security of knowing that when he furnishes information on a confidential basia, he vill not at @ leter date find that confidence broken. When that occurs, the ability of the investigative agency to discharge ita responsibilities in the future ia materially lessened. The public record clearly proves that the FBI because it does maintain +. confidences hes been able to develop valuable sources of information which have a direct bearing on the internal security of the nation. I need refer only to mn thea trial nf tha leven Commmi at a a ok ">: wae Lal the esngormmont ufttenmoagacoe thn +a a | = teal let de SA wok Whe Waa wu Lae es + fi hw ed tat Nat do | INDEXED - -2 i leaders in New York last summer. Seven of thebe witnesse re the ives as undercover employces of the FBI. mis 22” The question of opening the filee ofNitie ae @ grave matter of principle. In taking the position that the Ae JBI-should remain inviolate, I would not, of course, presume to dtecuss, \ies other than: those of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. — These files contain complaints, allegations, facts, and statements of all persons interviewed. Depending upon the purpose of the investigation, NED egy TPO SST STATEMENT OF J.' joe ooven. DIRECTOR, ; BUREAU OF INVESTI tom, wr A ) t a.\ a rte -~A66 a i dee