315.3/1–2953
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the President 1
My Dear Mr. President: In the three days I have been on duty as the United States Representative to the United Nations, one of my first objectives has been to assure that prompt and effective actions are taken to investigate and report on the loyalty of United States citizens employed in the United Nations Secretariat.
I have obtained the Secretary Generals assurance that he will turn over to this Mission within the next week or ten days the full information required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Service Commission for investigation of United States citizens employed in the United States by the United Nations. Submission of information on employees stationed outside the United States will require a somewhat longer time. Completed information on a number of individuals will reach the Civil Service Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the end of this week.
[Page 325]I understand that the Civil Service Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have only the most limited funds to initiate this work. There are some 2,000 cases to be dealt with in the United Nations and I understand from the Department of State that there are approximately 1,500 cases in the other international agencies. The investigation and review of these 3,500 individual cases will require substantially larger amounts than are currently available. The Bureau of the Budget on January 19 approved a supplemental appropriation request, recorded in House Document 66, in the amount of $1,000,000 to start the program.
I understand that the Congress does not intend to take any action on this request unless you indicate your support for the program. I consider action by the Congress on this appropriation of the greatest urgency if we are to be able promptly to assure the people of the United States that the United States citizens employed in the United Nations are loyal to our country.
Accordingly, I recommend that you urge the Congress to act on this appropriation request immediately so that we can go forward with the task of strengthening the United Nations.
Faithfully yours,
Chief, United States Mission to the United Nations
- Source text is accompanied by a covering memorandum from Lodge to the Under Secretary of State for Administration, Donold Lourie, also dated Jan. 20, 1953, which reads: “Dr. Mr. Lourie: For your information I enclose herewith a copy of a letter which I have sent to the President in connection with funds for F.B.I. investigation of United Nations personnel. With best wishes, I am, …”↩