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ae Op Kolate * Right “For. 2¢ years J. Edgar. in recent testimony before highlights from his testimony. jx the 26 ears during which I have been privileged to serve as Director of the Federal Buresu of Investigation,’ have always main- tained the view that if we were to fully discharge the serious re sponsibilities imposed upon us,.the confidential character of oor. files must be inviolate... .. - A cardinal principle of success for any agency having a responsi- bility for Investigations is Its abi!- ity to secure information. To do that, it must-be able to maintain confidences, yAny person furnish- ing information must have the security of knowing that when he furnishes Information on «a con- fidential basis, he will not- at a later date find that ‘confidence broken. When that occurs, the ability of the investigative agency to discharge its responsibilities in the future is materially lessened. . The question of opening the files of the F.B.L involves a grave mat- ter of principle. - These files con- tain ¢omplaints, allegations, facts, By and ‘statements of all persons in- terviewed. Depending upon the purpose ‘ef the investigation, par- ticularly in pecurity eases, they contain not only background data on the individual] but details of his private life which bear” "Upon the investigation, | Thert are other compelling sone why the files of th ae 4.7, 5 18-136 3 13 ‘Files Would of Fair Play Hoover has been director of the ty the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions, he told why F.B.I, Ales muat be kept tonfidentéal. Here are should remain inviolate, “The files do not consist of proven informa- tion alone. I would not want to be & party to any action which would “smear” fnnocent Individuals for the rest of their lives. We cannot disregard the fundamental prin- ciples of common decency and the application of - basic American rights of fair play. - * F.B.I. reports set forth all de- tails pecured from a witness, If those details were disclosed, they to thwart truth, distor) { thutha, and misrepresent Say, a a. en ee er te ee ee — THE MACHINIST Washington, D. C. ~ aa ag EEE wee