Several other identities have been suggested for the informant. Dr. John J. Peters, director of the Yale Medical School, suggests that several members of the Yale Corporation, including Robert A. Taft and Dean Acheson, are in positions to obtain FBI secret files.

Mr. Cohen himself, although he subscribes to the FBI theory, admits the possibility of a philosophy man "black balling" him. But such a black-ball would have had to occur after the man had publicly approved him at the philosophy department vote.

On the other hand, if the informant was connected with the FBI, he was acting in direct violation of the bureau's policy. A New Haven FBI spokesman has said, "We are not allowed to open our records either to private individuals or to civilian institutions."

The spokesman also said that he knew of no organization in New Haven besides the FBI which could have made the report on Mr. Cohen.

Shortly after the informant had delivered his oral report, the Prudential Committee informed Professor Brand Blanshard, chairman of the philosophy department, that Mr. Cohen was not to be appointed. This contradicts Provost Furniss' statement that the case was never decided against Mr. Cohen, but merely "held in abeyance." The committee further stated that when a man's rejection was based on communist affiliation, the department involved would have no voice in the matter.

Cohen Rejected

This was in line with Provost Furniss' own inclination: not to admit any known communists to the Yale faculty in any capacity. "Some educators argue that communists should be admitted in certain research and non-controversial fields, but I cannot make that distinction," the Provost says. "If we have Communists on the faculty now, however, we are not going to fire them for their beliefs," he adds.

Professor Blanshard told Mr. Cohen of the Prudential Committee's decision and of the basic charge.

Professor Northrop also soon learned of the charge. After a long talk with Mr. Cohen, he went to the Provost and stated that he definitely believed the charges to be false. Provost Furniss then agreed that the case seemed to demand further investigation and expressed a desire to talk with Mr. Cohen.

Professor Northrop also brought Mr. Cohen's case before a regular meeting of the philosophy department. The department then wrote the Prudential Committee, unanimously reaffirming its faith in Mr. Cohen and protesting the procedure used by the committee as contrary to due process.

The department felt that Mr. Cohen had little chance to clear himself. He knew only that he had been accused of communist activities and of association with known Communists.

Political Life Reported

During the five days of re-investigation which followed, Provost Furniss consistently refused to name Mr. Cohen's alleged Communist associates. To clear himself with the Provost, Mr. Cohen submitted a four-page statement of his political credo. He also felt forced to report to Provost Furniss, down to the most minute details, every political activity he had engaged in over the past four years.

"I would guess that I told the Provost a lot of dirt about me he never even knew," Mr. Cohen said later. "I even told him about the time I was actually approached by an avowed Communist who tried to get me to join the party."

In his oral autobiography, Mr. Cohen did hit upon one name which the Provost admitted had been mentioned in the informant's report. It was John Marsalka, former assistant professor of history at Yale and a Wallsee party candidate for Congress. Mr. Cohen admits having conversations with Mr. Marsalka, but says they disagreed on many political policies.