◆ SpookStack

tee ee mee a i gee = rr Pd An Sak are A a lt | (. C} printadlé material from the wprintable. The files do not consist of proven information alone. The filea must be viewed as a whole, One report may allege crimes of a most deapicable type, and the truth or falsity of these charges may not emerge until several reports are studied, further investigation made and the wheat separated from the chuff. I, for one, would want no part of an investigative organization which had the power of diacretion to decide what information would be reported and what would be omitted. An item of information which appeara unimportant today may provide the solution of a case when considered with information received at 4 later date, or it may later establish the innocence of the accused. Should a given file be discloaed, the issue would be a far broader one than concerna the subject of the investigation. Names of persons who by force of circumstence entered into the investigation might well be innocent of any wrong. To publicize their names without the explanation of their associations would De a grave injustice. Even though they were given an opportunity to iater give their explanation, the fact remains that truth seldom, if ever, catches up with charges. I would not want to be a party to any action which would "smear" innocent individuals for the rest of their lives. We cannot disregard the funda-~ Mental principles of common decency and the application of basic American righte of fair play. The FBI has the obligation, within the scope of Federal law, not only to protect the righta, lives, and property of our citizens, but also to protect the confidential relationship of the citizen when he patriotically servee his Government by providing information essential to our security.