Truman Says white Kept to Aid FBI Check

Former President Harry S. Truman said last night that he had retained Harry Dexter White because it made possible continuing an investigation involving other persons in the White case. Truman added that final responsibility was his in keeping White on, despite charges of disloyalty, and that there had been more danger in alerting other security suspects than in allowing White to remain under FBI surveillance on the board of the International Monetary fund.

Truman termed the recent charges by Brownell concerning his part in the White case "shameful demagoguery." He charged Brownell with "degrading the highest function of government--the administration of justice--into cheap political trickery."

Truman termed "a lie to the American people" Brownell's charge that "Harry Dexter White was known to be a Communist spy by the very people who appointed him."

He recalled that he had received a report on White Feb. 6, 1946, the same day on which the Senate confirmed White's appointment to the Monetary Fund. White had previously been Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Fred M. Vinson.

Though White was allowed to serve on the Board of the Fund, Truman said he was separated from government service promptly in 1947," when the necessity for secrecy concerning the intensive investigation by the FBI came to an end."