Evening star., 1941-03-30
By FRANK I. WELLER,

They conclude that President
Roosevelt's lightning-like start on
the new lease-lend program of aid
to beleagured "democracies" makes
foreign intervention in United
States policy now-or-never prob
lem. The international Communist,
! they add, sees wall of public
awarenesS suddenly confronting
him, and the Berlin Rome Toxic
principals find anti-axis sentiment
increasing in direct ratio to the
growth of American defense.
Some of them say they possess
confidential information that a
campaign of terrorism, sabotage
and espionage will be attempted
wherever undercover operatives
with direct foreign relations can
force breach in social, economic
and political armor They under
stand that these agents will at
tempt to use certain elements In
the German-American bunds, the
Communist party of the United
States and other legal organiza-
0IoAlo lCdIlllls W" dlu AoI CISll dlSOd-
torships
Dies Wants Prosecution.
The bunds now require American
citizenship of their members but
they, in some instances. affiliate by
devious means with Adolf Hitler's
National Socialist party. The Com
munist party denies that it ad-
vocates overthrowing the United
States Government by force of
arms, tenet of international Com
munism, but to date it has not
severed its connection with Moscow.
Chairman Dies of the House Com
mittee Investigating Un-American
Activities, announced on March 18
that he would ask that a grand jury
be convened here within the next
two months to prosecute the Ger
American bund, the Commu-
mist party and others for failure to
register as agents of foreign prin-
cipals.
Il am convinced" he said, that
we never can deal with fifth column
activities in America until these
ure to comply with existing statutes.
Many members of these organiza-
tions work in national defense in
duStrieS.'
'Tsms" Losing Ground.
Commentators differ. according to
their respective experiences, on the
probable extent or success of fore
casted fifth column activities. but
those in public and private life in
tervieWed here agree that this coun-
try today is less vulnerable to sub
versive influences than at any time
IN recent months and say all alien
"lsms" are losing ground with their
followers.
Most are inclined to agree with
Mr.. Dies, however. that there still
we're at least 100000 persons ac-
lively working for foreign interests
and that upward of 100000 need
ed watching"
lhe State Department and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation are
professionally silent on American
counter-esplonage and decline to
discuss operations of the bunds. the
Communists and their possible ties
with the Soviet government or the
axis. Both, however, are relentless
ly on the trail of agitators and
watching for Communist COL
laboration here as a result of Ber-
un-MoscoW maneuvers abroad.
Officials Critical.
Some Government officials pri-
vately criticise the administration
for not making public its informa-
ton regarding fifth column OPERA
tlons, insisting that the State De-
partment is well aware of axis din
IomatS spying on American defense
preparations and that to large ex-
tent Army and Navy secrets are
common property of Berlin, Rome
and Toxic
OVhers say the administration has
1ull faith in counter-espionage and
hesltates to acquaint the public
with situations which an aroused
opinion might complicate while din
lomatic relations teeter in the bal
ance
1hese delicate scales did a dery-
Ism dance February 81 when the
POST ONCE Department confiscated
1900 pieces of foreign propaganda
mail weighing IS tons. Oficials
SAID 1t came chiefly from Germany
and Russia via Pacific ports. The
Soviet Embassy Immediately pro-
tested the seizure, and the depart
ment offered to give it all up II
the addresses would appear in per-
son to claim the mail and register
the foreign sources supplying it.
Law Furnished Trap.
The seizure was made under a re-
cent law declaring "unmaila bic"
material sent to this country by
agents of foreign principals not
registered with the State Depart
ment. The law gave the State De-
partment, the F. B. I. and the
Post Office Department a trap for
foreign propagandists without vio-
lating the American Bill of Rights.
Government officials say fifth COL
umnists in this country are better
supplied with funds than they were
in any area overrun by Hitler and
Stain in Europe. Communists
alone. they say, collect 100000
annually from American sympa-
thizers, have transferred from Mos
cow to Nazi agents here consider
able sums to liquidate obligations
to Berlin and that Nazi money is
shuttled across the Western Hemi-
sphere entirely free of any United
States restraint.
Mr.. Dies says his committee will
use its s150,000 of new appropria-
tions to ride herd on Communist,
Nazi, Fascist and Japanese maneu-
vers, particularly in respect to any
secret commitments among them to
collaborate against American ma
tional policy or to foment indus
trial disorder.