Evening star., 1939-09-25
Dies Probe Records
To Be Turned Over
To Hull and Murphy
Communists and Bund
Declared Violating
Espionage Act
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Charges that officers and men,
bers Of the Communist Party in
the United States and the German
American Bund are violating both
the registration and espionage acts
today caused the House Committee
on un-American Activities to vote
to turn over to the State and Justice
Departments all records in its pos
session which may relate to such
instances.
The charges were made by Repre-
sentative Thomas, Republican, of
New Jersey, Immediately after the
committee convened to question
Gerhart Seger, former member of
the German Reichstag, and now
editor of the New York German
language weekly Neue Volkseitung.
Kuhn to BE Recalled.
The committee also decided to
recall Fritz Kuhn, German Amer
lean Bund leader. after Mr.. eeger
produced some of Mr.. Kuhns own
newspapers which he said denied
certain statements the bund leader
made during his testimony several
weeks ago.
The committee. it was said. wants
to question Mr.. Kuhn about these
statements, as well as learn why
he had not submitted. as promised,
a list of bund posts in the United
States and their officers.
The decision to recall Mr.. Kuhn
followed a statement by Repre-
sentative Starnes, Democrat, of Ala
bama, committee member, that
some action should be taken to
bring the bund leader Ito account"
Based on testimony presented to
this committee to date" declared
Mr.. Thomas, one of its members,
there can be no doubt that the Of
fees and members of the Com
muinst party, U. S. A., and the
German-American Bund, are violat-
ing both the Registration and the
Espionage Acts of this Nation. The
penalty of such violation in the
case OF the Foreign Agents Act Is
fine Of not more than $1,000 or
imprisonment for a term of not
more than two years, and in the
case of the Espionage Act, the pen
atty is fine of not more than
5000 or imprisonment of not more
than five years.
In view of the clear-cut testi-
mony showing the close tie-up be-
tween the Communist party and the
German-American Bund and their
foreign headquarters, and in view
OF the national emergency which
exists, think it is our solemn duty
as committee of the House, to
Immediately acquaint both the State
and Justice Departments with all
relating testimony.
L therefore ask that the chair
man of the committee request our
attorney to transmit all such testi-
mony to the departments in uues-
ton without delay"
(The Registration Act, aimed
particularly at those dissem-
mating foreign publicity or prop
aganda, requires all agents of
foreign principals or govern
ments to register with the State
Department. Under the Espio-
mage Act, all foreign govern
ment agents must notify the
: State Department of their activ-
tiles. The acts apply to those
receiving compensation or tax
ing orders from abroad)
Move to "Clean House."
Chairman Dies subsequently an
nounced he had received informa-
ton Federal departments as well
as Organized labor are preparing
to "clean house" of known COM
munists.
He pointed out, too, the committee
seven, months ago transmitted to
the State and Justice Departments
all information in its possession
concerning subversive activities.
Mr.. Seger, who came to the United
States In 1894 after escaping from
q German concentration camp, told
the committee some of his pbserva-
tions in travelling and lecturing in
"a States in this country, particu-
larly with respect to activities Of
the German-American bund.
The witness said he guessed" |
there are between 1000, 900 and g.
100000 German-Americans In the
United States, S per cent Of whom
are members Of Nazi organisations
or sympathizers Of the Hitler regime.
At least 30 per cent Of them, he
declared, are either Indifferent or |