(8 of 10)
"The bureau's information at this time indicates that the following persons were participants in this operation or were utilized by principals in this ring for the purpose of obtaining data in which the Soviet is interested."
The name of Harry Dexter White was the second name mentioned in the list of names furnished . . . In the meantime, our investigation of White and others mentioned by Miss Bentley and Whittaker Chambers, as well as those individuals on whom we had adverse information from equally reliable sources, continued . . .
From Nov. 8, 1945 until July 24, 1946, seven communications went to the White House bearing on espionage activities, wherein Harry Dexter White's name was specifically mentioned . . . The FBI, of course, has a duty to evaluate its sources of information. In the 28-page summary concerning White, dated Feb. 1, 1946, delivered to General Vaughan on Feb. 4, 1946, the information contained therein came from a total of 30 sources, the reliability of which had previously been established.
In connection with the sources, I would like to mention one in particular, Miss Elizabeth Bentley. From the very outset, we established that she had been in a position to report the facts relative to Soviet espionage, which she has done. We knew she was in contact with a top-ranking Soviet espionage agent, Anatoli Gromov, the first secretary of the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C., as late as Nov. 21, 1945 in New York City . . .
All information furnished by Miss Bentley, which was susceptible to check, has proven to be correct. She has been subjected to the most searching of cross-examinations; her testimony has been evaluated by juries and reviewed by the courts and has been found to be accurate.
Now to return to Harry Dexter White. In a conversation on Feb. 21, 1946, the Attorney General [Tom Clark] informed me that he had spoken with the then Secretary of the Treasury, the late Chief Justice Fred Vinson, and the President about White. The Attorney General stated he felt the President should personally tell White that it would be best for him not to serve.
I told the Attorney General I felt it was unwise for White to serve. The Attorney General then stated he would like to confer with Judge Vinson and me on the following day, Feb. 22, 1946.
I had luncheon on Feb. 22, 1946 in the Attorney General's office with Judge Vinson and the Attorney General, at which time there was a lengthy conference. I was told that the problem was what could be done to prevent White from taking his oath of office. Judge Vinson did not want Mr. White to serve as a United States delegate on the International Monetary Fund and, in fact, did not want him to continue as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
On the other hand, Judge Vinson stated that the President could be forced to sign the commission since the Senate had already confirmed White's appointment. I advised Judge Vinson and the Attorney General that the character of the evidence was such that it should not be publicly disclosed at that time in view of the confidential sources involved.
Three Courses for Lunch
It was the opinion of Judge Vinson and the Attorney General, as expressed that day at luncheon, that the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General would arrange