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a i a ee i i el a } q The sranrefar of the contents of the files of the FBI would reveal confidential procedures and techniques. If apread upon the record, crimfnals, foreign agents, subversivea, and others would be forewarned and would seek methods to carry out their activities by avoiding detection and thus defeat the very mitoses for which the FBI was created. Each exception undermines this principle, establishes a precedent, and would inevitably result in a complete collapses of a traditional policy which has proven ita e.undnease. . A disclosure of FBI reports would revoal the identity of confidential acurcea of informetion ond, if it did not place the Lives of such persons in actual jeopardy, it would certainly ruin their future value end effectiveness. The @isclorure of FBI reports would make otherwise patriotic citizens reluctant to fwmish information, Alrendy, as a reault of some unfortunate disclosurcs of our files in court procosdings, our Special Agents frequently to be interviewed for fear the information will be misused by some agency other than the FBI, In the conduct of official investigations, information of a highly restricted nature having a direct besring upon national secarity often finde ita way jnto the files which, if disclosed, would be of considerablo value to ae foreign power. Increasingly, we have observed efforts of a foreign power to peek intimate personal details concerming many of our leaders in Government and industry Thy vhould noc be afded by having these details made public for their use and advantég:, ther: by cripnling the importint work of the FBI. So far, I have dir-cted my rurarke against a disclosure of FBI files on raapone why the files of the FBI should remain invioslete. For the want of a more apt compariaon, our files can be compared to the notes of n newapaper reportor before he has culled the - 3- a ee