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Irvin, it ‘erman, the Washington representative of the berties Union (ACLU), | was very much upset and disturbed over the prosp! of the Senate Post Office Committee violating the confidential character of files, iny their forthcoming i inquiry on security procedures. © He advised me today that he lunch on May 12th with former Senator Gillette and Hugh Finzel. He referred to the letter which he had written Senator Johnston and which he had also furnished us wherein he made a_ strong presentation on the necessity of protecting the \ confidential character of files.” He told me that Senator Gillette impressed h individual:case basis. The only two cases that they have definitely decided t hold hearings on are the Wolf--Ladejinsky case and the Chasanow case.. Gillett stated that they contemplated developing the basic facts and then it will be neces to get access to the files to see how the cases were handled or mishandled.’ * Gi We very determined to proceed and he intends to have public hearings « onan 7 . ‘ ked if there \ was not some compromise and whether hocaca information or’, Summaries might not suffice. Senator Gillette: ‘stated thi this might serve the purpose. Ferman stated that-he is even more concerne now over the confidential character of files since he feels that the Jjiberal force were pretty well mobilized behind the ‘necessity of protecting files ‘in the McCa: hearings might now very well reverse themselves and say that th ‘fi {made public in the. Chasanow and fadejinsky ¢ cases. I tola Ferman that these, of course, werebnly two cases and that must be remembered that there are many other cases and that there might” com a time where the only way a Government agency might defend itself would be to bare the files to show exactly what was done or what was. not, dones:, I told Ferm that we, of course, would stick to our traditional | position,” * but that on theo should the question, of our own integrity'’or what we did or “did ‘not do became an issue, we did-not propose to take this idly lying down. Ferman stated that he cc - Mr. Boardm: cc - Mk. Belmont