Evening star., 1945-02-07
Hart Unit Hompered
By Its Predecessor
Writer Says New Dies Committee
Can Do Constructive Service


Writer Says New Dies Committee
Can Do Constructive Service
By David Laurence
What Is an un-American activity
Representative Mundt, Republican, Of
South Dakota has been endeavoring to
elicit from all sides some definition fer
the guidance OF the House COMMITTEES
which was recently formed as q perma-
nent unit to succeed the Dies Conn
mittee.
There can be no doubt there Is q
place for such committee, but there Is
considerable doubt as to what consti-
tutes q legitimate orbit for its in
quiries.
. One of the handicaps under which
the new committee starts Is that its
predecessor unquestionably did inju-e
the reputation of innocent parties while
seeking to get at the persons really
guilty of subversive activities.
There are unfortunately many mis-
guided persons In America who think 1t
is "un-American" to be radical or social
istic and who really want to define "un-
American activities" as the articulation,
either by individuals or gropps, of all
beliefs on social or economic questions
that happen to be contrary to their own,
and perhaps even adverse to their
pocketbook interest.
The new committee, of which Repre-
sentative Hart, Democrat of New Jersey
is chairman, can do constructive and
a patriotic service by putting as much
Affirmative emphasis on what consti-
tutes an American activity as has been
placed on the negative or un-Americaa
activity side.
For one thing, 1t is American to
study all forms of government and to
examine all PHILOSOPHERS, whether left
wing or right wing. 1t is American to
assume toward any citizen a tolerant
view by respecting his right to be left
wing or right, radical or conservative,
as well as his right to economic oppor-
tunity, irrespective of race, creed or
color.
Fallacies Need Exposure.
1t would be American even to teach
effectively what Communism or Fas-
cism really is; provided, along with
such courses, the fallacies of such sys-
TENS were as sympathetically presented
by the teachers.
But it is decidedly un-American for
any organization or association to re-
ceive financial or moral support from
any foreign government or interest and
to pose as an American organization
when it is, in reality either openly or
clandestinely dedicated to the further
ance Of the objectives of a foreign gov
ernment or group.
There have been in the past such
un-American activities on the part OF
citizens of the United States who have
acted in behalf of interests in Great
Britain, Germany, France and Japan
as well as Russia.
The ways of foreign propagandists
are devious and subtle. Some govern
ments bestow their rewards in the form
Of ribbons and decorations. Others be-
stow financial rewards, and still others
| employ at substantial fees American law.
yers to do ordinary legal work, only te
expect them to take an active part ir
the formation of societies and associa.
tions which at the bottom have fol
their purpose the furtherance of poll
cies of certain foreign governments.
Some of these seemingly un-American
activities may really prove to be legiti-
mate but. if so there can be provision
by law for their periodic disclosure by
the listing with the Department Of State
of all persons engaged in such activities.
Too often, however. only through the
investigative power of Congress Is it
possible to get to the bottom of the
lntrigues that are employed by foreign
interests to influence legislation or to
exert an influence on our own domestic
or foreign policies as applied by the
Line Of Demarcation.
International friendship requires that
citizens Of all countries shall have access
to Americans for the presentations OF
their respective points of view. but there
is line of demarcation between full
disclosure or legitimate petition as dis
tinguished from illegitimate influence
and covert pressures.
It is un-American, moreover, for mis-.
| guided citizens to distribute literature
preaching hate against religions or race
| they don't happen to like. Too man.
| American businessmen are sucked int.
contributing funds for these alleged!
American" activities With are, in fact
the very antithesis of true Americanism
A committee Of Congress can, by con.
stant exposure, reveal to the American
public and to well-meaning citizens ths
pitfalls to which they are so often SUBJ
jected.
As for so-called subversive activities
that seek to undermine our institutions
CT government and which basically
seek to overthrow by physical force OF
by economic violence our constitutional
system of government, this is . line OF
inquiry that may overflow occasionally
into the activities of innocent groups
but corrective processes are always avail
able when mistakes are made. There
must be every assurance that truly SUBJ
versive activities are not permitted to
escape detection just because the line
of inquiry sometimes enters so-calleo
twilight zone of investigation.
Reproduction Rights Reserved1
Chestnuts Surviving
From the New York Herald Tribune. 4
Those who slugged heavy stick VI
into autumnal chestnut boughs year