Evening star., 1947-02-06
By J. A. OLeor

Gerhard Eisler, who has been
described as the chief Commu-
mist agent in this country, was
cited for contempt by the House
Un-American Activities Commit
tee today when he refused TO
take an oath and testify.
Shortly afterwards two of Eisler's
former associates - including one
who said she is his sister-declared
he was for many years Moscow's
top agent here.
Shouting that he Is political
prisoner" Eisler threw into turmoil
the committees inquiry into Com
nlunist operations in the United
States.
Year i'm Jail Possible.
He refused repeatedly to take an
oath to tell the truth. Finally the
committee cited him for contempt.
Conviction by q jury would carry
a possible penalty Of $1,000 fine and
q year in jail.
Federal agents took Eisler away,
to go to Ellis Island, N. Y. He is
charged with violating the immi-
grafton laws. Then, in succession,
these witnesses took the stand:
William NOVEL;, colored, who said
he was Georgia-born and was a
member of the Communist Party
from 1929 to 1886, declared he had
known Eisler in Moscow and in
Detroit under such aliases as Ed
wards" and Brown" and that
Eisler was for years an agent of the
Communist International.
Ruth Fisher of New York City,
who testified her real name is Eisler
and that she is a sister OF Gerhard,
said she has not spoken to him for
years because she regards him as
a most dangerous terrorist both
for the people OF America and the
people of Germany"
"Used Many Names"
Between puffs as she chain
smoked cigarettes, Miss Fisher said
Eisler was known in inner Comm
tern circles as "Gerhart," but added
that he had used many other
names" in the course of his work.
The Cmintern Is the International
Communist Party controlling group.
She reported that Eisler once had
been praised In a report to the
Comintern for his excellent
achievements as the new American
agent"
She told the committee that Els
Ter "pretends to be German anti
Nazi," but added that he never
fought the Nazis and lost nothing
during the time they were in power" I"
Declaring she was charter men,
Der Of the Austrian Communist
Party, which her brother joined in
1918, the witness said the two of
them were on the friendliest terms,
personally and politically, until 1923,
when they had a deep conflict"
about Communist Party policy in
Germany, where they then lived.
Says Party Expelled Her.
She said she was expelled from
the party in 1925 and her relations
With her brother deteriorated be-
cause of her opposition to General
issimo Stain, the Politburo and the
Comintern.
Then, reading statement she
haa prepared, Miss Fisher said she
considers Eisler the perfect type"
She said the fact that he is her
brother has "only given me deeper
insight in the technique of Stains
NKVD (secret police and the terror
system it imposes on the peoples of
Europe"
"In the inner circles of the Com
intern" she testified, 'it is well
known that Eisler has denounced to
the GPU many anti-Nazi refugees
living in Moscow. He is particularly
responsible for the death of the
German Communist Hugo Eberlein
- and of Nikolai Bukharin, the
great Russian theorist, his one-time
friend and protector"
NOVEL; said he joined the Com
munist Party in Detroit in 1929 and
was sent that year to Moscow, and
again in 1881 to study at the Inter-
national Lenin School. He de-
scribed this as the school of the
Comintern.
He listed his curriculum as
(see EISLER, Page A-4)