Evening star., 1941-03-04
Peace Mobilization
Defies Subpoena by
Dies Committee
Seeretory-Treasurer
Refuses to Turn Records
Over to Investigators


Over to Investigators
Mrs. Sarah v. Montgomery, Sec
retary-treasurer of the Washington
chapter of American Peace Mobili-
zation, Inc, today defied subpoena
issued by the House Committee on
Un-American Activities by refusing
to produce records of the organiza-
ton.
Chairman Dies announced after
Mrs. Montgomery appeared before
him at a closed hearing that he
would ask the full committee to de-
eide what action should be taken.
He pointed out that five cases of
contempt are now pending In the
United States Court here against
persons who formerly refused to
Cooperate" with the committee.
Mrs. Montgomery, In response to a
committee subpoena, appeared be-
fore Chairman Dies, who constituted
himself as subcommittee, accom-
panied by her attorney, Edward
Lamb Of Toledo, Ohio; Morris Wat
son, vice president Of the American
Newspaper Guild, and Joseph Cad
den of the American Youth Con-
gress She read a prepared state
ment saying she refused to produce
the data requested because my
counsel advised me the question is
not pertinent to the purpose of the
committee" She also placed in the
record of the hearing a copy of
pamphlet outlining the aims and
purposes Of the A. P. M.
Says U. 8. Employees Belong.
Representative Dies told news
paperman the committee had in
formation that a number of men,
bers of the A. P. M. Washington
Chapter are Government employees
who formerly were identified with
the now defunct American League
for Peace and Democracy which
the committee last year charged
was a communist front" organiza-
tion.
The committee had subpoenaed
the minutes of the meetings of the
Washington Chapter, its financial
and membership records and its
mailing list. Mrs. Montgomery ex-
planned the organization had no per-
sonal membership or mailing lists.
To newspapermen who asked her
how many members are in the
Washington Chapter of A. p. NJ,
Mrs. Montgomery said:
81 don't know how many men,
bers we have We hope there are
lots of them who are working for
peace"
Mrs. Montgomery also told news
papermen there Is nothing un-
American" with respect to the or
ganization. 1--WE are better Amer
leans than some people I can men
ton"
Charges "smearings Is Aim.
THE conclusion Is inescapable,' -
Mrs. Montgomery said in a statement
to the one-man subcommittee and
which she later made public. Your
committee has summoned us for the
purpose Of smearing; for the purpose
of spreading fear among the people
who speak out for peace and for
democracy; for the purpose Of chok-
ing of opposition to the so-called
lease-lend bill which would bring
war and Fascist dictatorship to this
country"
The statement also said:
"You ask me to produce minutes
Of meetings, financial records, mem
bership and mailing lists of the
Washington Peace Mobilization.
must request an explanation of the
pertinency Of such questions. Such
questions, of course, are hardly spe-
cific. But I do not wish anything
but the paramount issue Of peace to
becloud my appearance before your
committee. I wish your committee
could advise me If to ask such ques-
tions is not an unwarranted invasion
Of my constitutional privileges. My
desire for the preservation of
American democratic institutions is
as great as that of any member OF
this Congress.
This committee, as well as the
Nation, will find that the principal
policies Of the American peace mo-
bilization are two:
'First-to keep the United States
out of war.
"Second-To preserve and extend
American democracy"
Doors Are Barred.
The doors of a Dies committee
office on the fifth floor of the old
House Once Building were barred
to newspaper reporters and pho
tographers when Mrs. Montgomery
made her appearance before the
one-man subcommittee. Chairman
Dies, however, dictated lengthy
statement to reporters after the
hearing, confirming Mrs. Mont
gomery's refusal to produce the
records that had been subpoenaed.
THE committee does not and will
not prejudge the case" he declared.
"The pamphlet submitted by Mrs.
MONTGOMERY shows that the organ
ization calls for:
81. A genuine and complete en-
barge on Fascist Japan.
80. Genuine aid to democratic
China.
"3. Collaboration with China and
the u. S. S. r. for an honest peace
policy in the Far East.
q. And an immediate end to
Yankee Imperialism in the Far
East"
Five witnesses, whose testimony
was sought in connection with al
legged activities of the Ogpu and
Gestapo, have dropped out Of sight
Chairman Dies said earlier today.
Five Witnesses Missing.
Their disappearance conceded
with the suicide here Of Gen. Walter
G. KrivitSky, former official of the
Russian secret police, and the mur.
der in New York of the Russian
Col. Borislavsky, and while Chair
man Dies said he did not know il
the deaths had any bearing on the
| dicopnaarance aI do know that we