But in Mr. Cohen's case, the Prudential Committee objected. The full story behind the objection will probably never become public knowledge.

This much is known: A man walked into the office of Provost Edgar S. Furniss and volunteered the information that Mr. Cohen was engaged in Communist activities.

The man backed up his statement by naming at least three men who, he said, were Mr. Cohen's active and intimate associates. These three men, the informant claimed, were known Communists.

Defended by Faculty

Provost Furniss and Dean of the College William C. DeVane, both members of the Prudential Committee, have at various times described the informant as "trustworthy", "a person who felt it was his duty to Yale", and a "man trusted by Yale in the past."

From remarks on the part of both Dean DeVane and Provost Furniss, however, it is evident that the informant had some connection with the FBI, or at least with a thoroughly systematized investigatory body.

Once Mr. Cohen suggested that since there were two Robert S. Cohens at Yale, it might all be a mistake. Dean DeVane then told Mr. Cohen that he would check with "the files" and make sure. Since the informant's report had been oral, this additional information could only have been available in the "files" of some home office.

This home office was efficient also. Forty-five minutes later, Dean DeVane had the answer. It was the right Cohen.

Provost Furniss, in a personal interview, at first stressed the fact that the informant had been an individual. But later, he made such remarks as: "So we called them back just to check up."

The Provost also gave further indications that his informant had some connection with the FBI:

"New Haven has a very strong communist cell," he said, "I think the FBI very probably had an underground agent actually in that cell, but all this is just conjecture, you know."

Since many of these "cell" members were also in the Wallace party, Provost Furniss pointed out, an underground agent would know of their association with Mr. Cohen.

The Provost implies that the original information on Mr. Cohen came from this undercover FBI agent.

Thus, the Provost's informant must have had access to this information. And to get information from secret FBI files, the informant must either be in the FBI himself or at least working for the FBI in some capacity.

And Provost Furniss actually knows his informant's name and position.