organization vas premature and could not be done without discussion which . . - discussion should. be held‘at some’ time after .the war. . lyon said the New = York. Office needed more money and Lawson reiterated the ‘Hollywood Committee « was very: poor and did not desire to make any further committments at the . %ihes yon was anxious that. the HICCASP send someone-to Washington or New _ . York. to-give Congressional leaders some tangible evidence of union bettiecn _ . “tthe National organization and the-Hollywood Comnittee:.- The source indicated - that -Lawson agreed that this might.be a good aa 100=24499-364 p7) +. On December 4, 1945, according to.a highly reliable source® 7 “the HICCASP held a rally, the thems .of which was "Atomic Power and Foreign . re _. Policy®.’ The official announcements described this affair as: an’ attempt to ‘make a reglistic approach’to the tremendous potentialities. of atomic: Weapons ‘and atomic energy. This rally called for-intemmational use and inter-. _ Mational control of atomic energy, and in this connection, the reliable y  4nformant. pointed out that Lawson, through George Pepper; Executive Secretary Of the BICCASP, carefully guided. the program, -It is interesting to observe 2 fo. _ that Ned Sparks, President of the Los Angeles County Commmist Party, accord= ~~ .ing to the informant, contacted Lawson regarding this program and stated that he felt more emphasis should be put upon American intervention in China -: dmasmch«as that was the main part of the Commnist line: Lawson reportedly  -: -* agreed to this and Stated that he would contact’ George Pepper to see’ that aN 8 . American intervention in China was given. app priate: attention % this rary. (&)(L - oe tar og A highly confidential source reported in Septerber, 1946, that Lawson | continued to be active in the affairs of the HICCASP and according to this . 7 “| source, he frequently conferred with its Executive Secretary, Alice Hunter; in fact,*this source stated that on duly 31, 1946, Banter contactéd Larson aad asked him if it was all right if the HICCASP issued a statement that they were not under the influence of the Commnist Party. According to the - ~, informant. Lavson stated it would be all right if. it:were done’ "carefully =. ". and. correctly", “This informant. further indicated Lawson attends most of : the mestings of the Brecutive Council of the HICCASP and through close. | NW 45§38 Docid:32338873 Page 40 . liaison with Hunter, continued to exert an influential rule in the policy “Of this organization. It is noted that shortly thereafter the HICCASP merged with the Progressive Citizens of America described.as a Corimmist-dominated 4. group by Harve G. Wolf, a confidential informant of. the Los Angeles Office. GOW (100-24499-387 p3). | so . _ '. According to articleseppearing in Los Angeles newspapers the Holly= | _ ood Arts, Sciences and Professions Council of the - rogressive Citisens of. ‘America held a five-day conference at the Beverley Hills Hotel, commencing 7 ednesday evening, July 9, 1947. They. announced the purpose of the conferrmnce . [stecimtca Surveillance on the residence of John Howard tanson. |) (4 ar . tN . - e ra YT ee 33 J SECRE]
tes, Phe Hollywood ariters ‘Yovilinction,. coordina ' te ‘Harvey. Gilbert “Wolf; a confidential informant of the Los Angeles Office, was! formed very. soon after the attack on Pearl ‘Harbor, December’ 75 -1941,: and was established” ao by persons who were most active in the ‘League of American Writers. Accord= .- -ing‘to. information: contained in reports of the Joint Fact-Finding Committee; an “California Legislature, based on information. developed in connection with . ¥..: interviews conducted of. Hollywood writers in October;: 19445: the. Hollywood - Writers Mobilization was under the control:of the Commnists and had numerous - contacts to supply the pictures which are. being released. in the, liberated: ‘Countries. . (100-10221%-14) 4 ee tee Uorifidential Informant wolf advised: that. there’ was a , close. connec= beet, . tion. existing between .the | Teague of  Ameek can ‘Mriters and ‘the. 6, Hollywood wes ‘lriters Uobilization. ars Sede cae tee ; a The following date: with: ‘eapect to ‘Lawson's: connesitons. ‘with the. -Fellywood Uriters Mobilization is set forth to i111 strate: the direction and. ‘control -exerted:over this organization by” Lawson. Most’. ‘pertinent. ‘informa=0 ow. ~ tion déveloped relative’. to’ Latrson's- ¢on Lo this’ BF OUP was: obtained by : rr : highly. reliable: and confidential sOurce%.: 4 . “Bs ne Tn “‘wireh; Fy 1945 98: a bighly bntiaential ‘eourde®- ‘advised ‘that ‘there “recently: had been a- strong difference of opinion: betusen Hobert: Riskin; ©.'5 (is head of the Overseas Fila Bureaus: Office -of: War : ‘Information, . New York; and: * Philip Dunne, head of the’los Angeles OWI Film Bureau,, and. this’ difference wie of. opinion ‘was concerned with ‘scripts: which. chad been- submitted: by: the’. a Bollywood Writers Mobilization. This’ source ‘indicated ‘that Sidney’ Buchman, a Chairman: of the Hollywood Writers: Mobilization Editorial: Board, discussed _ - this thatter , with John: Howard ‘Lavson..* ‘Buchman advised that: he had conferred’ ‘with Riskin ‘who informed him that: Philip Dunne’ had* ‘gone | overboard. on the go=.: fone called "contrived" films ‘(films based on fiction. or: so-called. ‘dramatic ‘in=) © os. ! ~ cidents).. Dunee had apparently instructied.the Holiywood Writers Mobilization ~~’ group that this was the type ‘of’ film owt, desired to. prodice,”. ; Following ‘ Ee . Dunne's instructions, according to the: ‘sources’ ‘the. Hollywood Uriters: Hott sa~ - : ' tion had gone’ ahead and -done scripts: of. this type. and’ asa result: may of’ the. 4 es seripts had been under fire by the New York Of fice of the OWI, where. Riskin : » was in-charge. It was further. pointed out: that Riskin was: strong ‘for ) | documentary films. since he felt a responsi bility to the” State. Department , ” and further that mi srepresentations were bound to arise’ out: of. dramatic: : -incideats in the "contrived" films’ thas making them more. "vulnerable". “The gouree stated that both Lawson and: Buchman. agreed that this controversy, 0 ..,, batween Dunne and Riskin-vould effect the Bollywood Writers: Mobilizationg © if Ay which they control, since most of: the sertpte. elready completed would have . to. be redone (100-102217,-13)"". - Sapte ef [*tectmica ‘Surveillance or the | Fesidence of Join Hovera Lasrada Vg a - 45838" Docia: 32338872 Page.41 -  * -. - 30>
| "on May 5, 1942. b ane 45838 C. LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WRITERS ee ee ey The League of American Writers, actérding to Havey Gilbert Wolf, . @ confidential informant of the los Angeles Office, was originated in ‘Werkov, Russia, in November, 1930, and in the United States in 1935.0 9" This informant indicated that the Hollywood: Chapter of the League of ~ American Writers was formed in the fall of. 1935 », the purpose being te bring the uriters employed in the motion picture industry unde the in= . fluence’of the League of American Writers andthe Commnist Party, USA, it being pointed out that this League vas the foremost front organization . _ Operating in the so-called cultural and intellectual. fields. _ ae (100-102217~7x) | 7 fhe source stated that the Congress of: American Revolutionary - ” Uriters formed the League. of American Writers, it being pointed out. that. an the latter organization was declared subversive by the Attorney General _ Additional information relative to the Communist daracter of - the League of American Writers was set. forth heretofore in connection with the Section entitled. “Joint Fact-Finding Committee, California Legislature’... * - _. . Shere is set forth hereinafter Lawson's. connection with the League. ~ as well as data demonstrating the control and direction which he exerted over this organization. The most pertinent information in this regard was obtained from:a highly confidential and reliable sourees.(6L YU) oot . On March 25, 1939, an article appeared in the Peoples World - entitled "Hollywood Writers ask Entry for German Exile"; The article : Stated that the recently organized Hollywood Branch of the League of American Writers-was taking the lead in demanding that the State Depart- - ment permit the entry of Frederich Wolff, famous exiled German dramatist: ; . .and film seript writer. The wire sent to the State Department was oo '- signed by John. Roward Lawson, among others: ~ * (61-7561-278x12) In ‘dune, 1941, an article appeared -in the Daily Worker entitled’ ete = ‘Writers Open Congress with Peace Rally". It was stated that some. of America's best mown novelists, poets, artists and literary critics raised | _their voice against war and colonial oppression at the rally of the Fourth Anerican Writers' Congress. John Howard. Lawson was listed as being one of . ' the speakers. °- (100-31091 Suba) On December 28, 1941, Walter Peter, 4524 Cold Water Canyon = GL | _ North Hollywood, California, a confidential informant of the Los Angeles (& [pteemtoan ‘Surveillance on the residence. of John towara Lavson. | “CORE '.DoeId: 32338872) Page 42
“> . De conneotions with other. or remtatin So id a “Un, cE , oo ‘The. Jemary, ‘1937, issue of the Labor. Defenders published monthly - ll US the International Labor Defense, 80 East llth. Street; Ney York City, on William Lo: Patterson and Sasha Small as editors, listed John -Koward Lavson.” " - as being. on the Editorial Boards, A highly ‘confidedtial and deliéate Source vo dn 1945 identified ‘Sage, Snall: 8S, Member of .the: thea ; (Sonteunt at Folitical Lo ‘Asmoclatiogs : ro tye oe Be (100-17 319-3 pz): |e * 3 “Th Fobruaty, issy, the. formation of the sineed den Society for ° we ij Pedtnical Aid’ ‘to Spaini'sh. ‘Democracy.with temporary. quarters ‘at R East. 27th 2 Street, Nex:York City, office.of the’ New Hasses, was: “announced . by Waldo Frank, I. novelist and lecturer: The officers, were listed: as- John ‘Hovard Lavson,, Bol po Secretary, and William Brower Treasurer. : ‘(10016932 pg) “In a ‘letter. aatied ‘December 35 1938, ‘issued. ly the Wational Con-- oo oa mittee for Péople's Rights,- formerly. the Hational Committee.for the Defense |. . Of Political, ‘Prisoners, 216 Clark Building, . Birminghan, : ‘Alabama, John... ° “Howard Lawson: was. listed as. ‘treasurer. OF. the crReotaation: (67 5 5943385: aD), Gonfidentiad. “Informant We. BR. Leathers, formerly’ 2 ‘an: infortant - ‘of: ‘the Atlanta Field’ Division,: informed! in J a 1962 5: 5 that ‘the National = * Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoner: Defense are toth Communist ‘\ an secure. ‘publi city. - According. to. the. informant, the International - Labor — ‘| » Defense has.close contact: ‘with. the. workers and isu . hdd clasp. of People. (100~3~33: Sec, 2 ser. BY. PA Sgn tie. Bask o# sy patthlet’ published in*1940 by ‘the Jeutch: People’s’ «| Commi thes; ” 100 Fifth Avaiue; lew York City; enti tled: For United Action in s) | the Struggle Against anti-Senitism and Fascism "; appears a list of the gs RSOrs | 7 / of this organization, The name of John Hovard Lavson is includéd. Ee | 8 Confidential source of. the New York Office has ‘stated OTHER 4 ‘Feople!s Comnt tte is a Coummnist~inspired group. (100-11380-16 p4-6; , 61~7590 -404) , Ih the Peoples’ Daily Vorla for June 17, ‘toa, » Mm article appears... K atebecdig’ the Federal Bureau of. Investigation in. the form of statements of: , ‘various: members of. the Citizens Comnittes for Harry Bridges released by ths ae Committee. headquarters at 1265. Broadway, New York City... Included ‘anong me individuals | \commenting on the conduct of the. Bridges: -héaring and the ect etthee | of the FBI was, dohn ' Howard Lawson ;° “playwrt ¢ ents and ‘gereen. a uritert. he ug iF OBER) " We UT ele A ~ 38 Docld:32336872 Page 43-0 + ©