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Susan Butler writes about Noel Field: "Field said incriminating things about Hiss in secret; he said them under duress." I am aware of Field's torture at the hands of the Hungarians. However, I have always wondered why he would name Hiss under these circumstances. Were the Hungarians trying to get him to name Hiss, and if so why would they do that? It seems to me that Field would only name Hiss under such circumstances if he (Field) was suspected of being an American agent but wanted to show that he was actually sympathetic with the communist cause and named Hiss as proof. Under these circumstances, Field's naming of Hiss would be very incriminating indeed. Susan Butler writes: " The larger issue at stake here is Alger Hiss. It is obviously frustrating to all those sure of his guilt that so far no information passed by him has been found in Soviet files." Actually, the larger issue is why the Russians have not released its GRU files. Hiss worked for Soviet military intelligence, the GRU, so the fact that no information has to date turned up in what has been released from the Soviet files is not totally surprising. There is also the possibility that what Hiss provided the Soviets was not really needed by them and would therefore not be listed. At any rate, even if that information ever turns up, I have little doubt that Hiss defenders will claim that the Soviets received the information from someone other than Hiss. One might also want to keep in mind the very real possibility that the Russians have a good incentive to never release any information about Hiss or purge the information that does exist. Releasing names discourages other potential traitors from working for the Russians. After all, how many potential traitors will be willing to work for a foreign intelligence service if they realize that it is possible that soemday they may outed - even if it is after their death. They could have family who would be very embarrassed and/or suffer adverse consequences by the revelations. John C Zimmerman University of Nevada,Las Vegas
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