The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-20

Walter Kr;vltsky zee On i OF un.
American activities in the United
States.
Krivitsky, as already has been
dely advertised, was once Rus
s.al secret police agent. Subse-
cuently breaking away from the
organization, however, he came TO
this country. an exile, and fur
nished the Dies committee with
much information concerning the
doings he said the Communists are
engaged in here.
He also wrote on the subject for
various periodicals.
One morning. not long ago. he
was found shot to death in his
room in a Washington hotel. The
capital police were OF the opinion
that he killed himself. It directly
was revealed, though. that he'd
predicted OGPU gunner would
murder him sooner or later, on ac-
count Of his testimony and writ
inss. and that II would look like
suicide.
And Of course 1t likewise was re-
called that Leon Trotsky. another
exile from Soviet-land, was slain in
Mexico City not long ago under
circumstances strongly suggesting
that he was an OGPU victim.
Naturally there was a deal OF
talk to the effect that the Stain
regime was decidedly overriding
matters by sending agents as far
away as Mexico City Of the Sta
linists really did il to execute
sentences pronounced in Moscow.
Still, the Trotsky liquidation
wasn't our business, but MeXico's.
This Is Different
II emphatically is our affair.
however, if the same things being
pulled off in our own midst.
Well, it probably never will be
proved whether Krivtsky was
murdered or committed suicide.
Nevertheless plenty of observers
strongly incline to the murder the
ory and the Washington police are
severely criticized, as having ac-
cepted the suicide guess too read
lily.
It was nothing but a coinci-
dence. but. Just the same, it did
happen that the question of con-
tinuing the Dies committee or put
ting an end to its Investigations
came up for a vote in the house
of representatives within a few
hours after the krivitsky liquida-
ton.
Now, l think the house would
have voted 10 keep the quiz going
anyway, but l certainly don't be-
lieve it would have done so 353 to
6 if it hadn't been for the krivit-
sky case, so very shortly previ-
ously
/ think thered have been a lot
more than six negative ballots for
the reason that considerable fault
has been found with the commit
tee heretofore. Its investigation
has been referred to as a witch
hunt" It's been accused of smear
ing various organizations that did
not deserve to be smeared, Of vio-
lating the Bill Of Rights, Of releas-
ing information that hampered the
Federal Bureau Of Investigations
undercover work against alien spies
and saboteurs.
But the Krivitsky incident
cinched the issue.
Communists Chief Targets
Dies and his associates have been
particularly hot after Communists.
Congressman Samuel Dickstein,
who cast one of the six negative
votes, charged that the inquisition
has specialized on Communists in
disregard Of Fascists and Nazis--
in fact that it's been rather friend
ly to the Fascists. Dies denied it
so violently that he had physical
collapse right after the discussion,
but I'm pretty sure the negatives
would have made more formid-
able showing but for the Krivitsky
matter
ParentheticalIv Dickstein pre.