New York, Oct. 8.
Strengthening of anti-spy measures in the United States was referred to by President Roosevelt yesterday at a press conference.
He disclosed that the Administration was preparing to tighten means of frustrating the efforts of foreign agents to obtain the military and naval secrets of the United States.
While it was believed, the President added, that there was no marked increase in the activities of such agents at present, there had been an increase in the last decade. 3 There was no idea of the Government establishing a huge anti-propaganda organization, Mr. Roosevelt concluded, but it was a definite Government responsibility to protect the United States from foreign spies.
Mr. Martin Dies, Chairman of the House of Representatives committee investigating un-American activities, said he would sponsor legislation to carry out the President's recommendations, including the abolition of foreign-controlled political groups.
He added that at present there were at least 10,000 Soviet spies and agents in the United States, and 300 Nazi, Italian Fascist and Communist groups controlled from Europe collecting millions of dollars.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.