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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. V - Page 18« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Alan H. Belmont)

Mr. Dulles.
Thank you.
Mr. Belmont.
Coming back to this item you inquired about, sir, the other dissemination to Secret Service concerning the security of the President is set forth on pages 2 and 3 of this inclusion in our manual, and it extends the dissemination to "subversives, ultrarightists, racists, and fascists, (a) possessing emotional instability or irrational behavior, (b) who have made threats of bodily harm against officials or employees of Federal, State or local government or officials of a foreign government, (c) who express or have expressed strong or violent anti-U.S. sentiments and who have been involved in bombing or bomb-making or whose past conduct indicates tendencies toward violence, and (d) whose prior acts or statements depict propensity for violence and hatred against organized government." That was prepared in an effort to provide additional, and a voluntary effort, without request, to provide additional information that might be helpful to avoid such an incident as happened November 22, 1963.
Mr. Stern.
This did not come about, this change did not come about, through any request from the Secret Service or discussion with the Secret Service?
Mr. Belmont.
No. We made these changes, as I say, in an effort to provide any additional information in the light of what happened that might be of assistance to Secret Service and might assist in protecting the President.
Mr. Dulles.
I wonder, Mr. Belmont, whether you would consider possibly changing in section (d) the word "and" to "or" whose prior acts or statements depict propensity for violence" and then it now reads "and hatred against organized government". There have been cases, I believe, where the propensity for violence had not been previously noted but the hatred of organized government has.
Mr. Belmont.
We will be happy to change that.
Mr. Dulles.
I just suggest for your consideration, I don't wish to rewrite it.
Mr. Belmont.
We would be happy to change it, Mr. Dulles.
Mr. Stern.
Following Mr. Dulles' thought, in the line above that, Mr. Belmont, should that "and" before (d) be "and" or "or"? Do you mean these----
Mr. Belmont.
We do not mean that all of these items must be coupled together if that is your thought.
Mr. Stern.
That is right.
Mr. Belmont.
We will be happy to change the "and" before (d) to an "or".
Mr. Stern.
This means any of the broad classifications of people, subversives, ultrarightists, racists or fascists who meet any of these four tests.
Mr. Belmont.
That is correct.
Mr. Stern.
Can you give the Commission some notion of the increase in volume which the broadening of your criteria has brought about? By volume, I mean the volume of your references to the Secret Service.
Mr. Belmont.
I do not have an exact figure, however, I do know that more than 5,000 additional names have gone over to Secret Service under these criteria.
Mr. Chairman.
In what period of time?
Mr. Belmont.
Since we put them out.
The Chairman.
I see.
Mr. Belmont.
Which was December 26.
The Chairman.
Yes.
Mr. Mccloy.
Have you included defectors in this list?
Mr. Belmont.
Yes, sir; we do include defectors.
Mr. Stern.
You mean as of December 26, 1963?
Mr. Belmont.
Correct.
Mr. Stern.
Has the expansion of your criteria led to any problem or difficulty for you or for individuals or do you anticipate any problem or difficulty under the expanded criteria?
Mr. Belmont.
It seems to me that there is a necessity to balance security against freedom of the individual. This is a country of laws and a government of law, and not a government of men. Inevitably the increase in security means an increase in the control of the individual and a diminishment, therefore, of his individual liberties. It is a simple matter to increase security. But every time you increase security you diminish the area of the rights of the individual. In some countries the problem of a visiting dignitary is met without much difficulty.
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