Evening star., 1939-01-06
Probes Nazii
And Communist
Activities
President Reports
Action on Dies
Report Charges
BACKGROUND

tiles accepted much testimony
critical of Ne,D Deal officials and
friends. Finally, President Roose-
Delt publicly rebuked committee
for alloWing unreStrained con-
demnatory testimony about
Frank Murphy, then Governor of
Michigan and no1D United States
Attorney General. Since that
time bitter controversy oDer CON-
mittee procedure and objectiues
has become more OF an issue than
its findings.
President Roosevelt revealed today
that the Justice Department has un-
dertaken an investigation of alleged
violations of the criminal statutes as
charged in the report of the Dies
Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties dealing with operations in this
country of Nazis, Communists and
certain other organizations.
The President made this known at
his press conference, saying he had
been informed of the investigation
in letter from Attorney General
urphy. He did not make the letter
public.
The Justice Department began its
investigation after Sumner Welles,
Acting Secretary of State, forwarded
to former Attorney General Cum
mlngs a request from Chairman Dies
OF the House committee. Mr.. Dies
asked a Federal investigation to de-
termine whether the Communist
party. the German-American Bund
and other organizations had violat-
ed Federal laws by failing to register
as agents of foreign principals.
Officials of the department said
they had directed j. Edgar Hoover
to have G-men make the investi-
cation. Mr.. Hoover's Federal Bu-
reau OF Investigation, they recalled,
already has made a Nationwide in
quiry into the bunds activities in
TINS country. The survey was COM
pleted last summer and was turned
over 10 the Dies Committee. OFF,
cials indicated that it failed to dis
close sufficient evidence to warrant
court action.
Brien Mcmahon, Assistant At
torney General in charge of crimi-
nal prosecutions, will personally
supervise the departments new in
vestigation.
Mr.. Dies said that evidence before
his committee clearly showed that
the Communist party of the United
States is an agent Of the Communist
Third International, which has its
headquarters in Moscow"
Front" Agents Named.
The evidence also indicated, his
letter added, that certain front" or
ganizations of the Communist party
were agents of that party. He spe-
cif1cally named the League for Peace
and Democracy, the International
Labor Defense and the Civil Liberties
Union.
Mr. Dies said other evidence indi-
Gated that the German-American
Bund represented Germany's Nazi
party.
Advised of the Presidents dis
closure. Mr.. Dies said the investipa-
ton is a recognition of the fact
that they are now taking seriously
what they previously tried to laugh
off,"
Some administration leaders. in
Guiding Mr.. Roosevelt, have criti-
clzed activities of the Dies COM
mittee.
They thought they would ridicule
our committee and our investiga-
tion," Mr.. Dies continued, but now
1t is proved by their own acts that
they are finally recognizing the pub
tic sentiment against the situations
brought out by our hearings"
Would Seek Indictment.
Mr.. Dies suggested that. with the
committees testimony and evidence
before it, the Justice Department
should proceed Immediately to OBJ
tain an indictment against the
Communist party for not registering
as an agent of the Communist Third
International.
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked at the
press conference about reports he is
opposing the request of the Dies
committee for an appropriation of
S150,O00 to continue It's work. He
(See DIES, Page A-4)