Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-21
House ProberS
1oCa|| Alleged
Red SpyChief
Committee to Serve
Subpoena at Peters
Deportation Hearing
By Robert K. Walsh

AIlCtlCdIl ACllVlJlCS Will ScIVc D.
subpoena, now being drawn up.
on J. Peters as soon as the re-
ported former head of the Com
munist underground appears,
probably next week. for a depor-
tation hearing, officials said
today
The committee wants to question
him particularly about the conflict
ing testimony of Alger Hiss, former
State Department official. and
Whitaker Chambers. avowed for
mer Communist agent.
The two men are to meet face
to face in open hearing Wednesday.
Mr.. Chambers said he was intro
duced to Mr.. Hiss by Peters in the
early 1930s and that Hiss belonged
to an elite Communist under
ground group here. Mr.. Hiss de-
MES this.
May Not Show Up.
1t is regarded as doubtful that the
committee can talk with Peters be-
fore this face-to-face meeting
Moreover, 1t is not certain that
Peters, who has been free on IS 900
bond since last October, will show
up for hearing in New York City
on whether he should be deported as
a member of an organization advo-
eating forcible overthrow of the
Government. The deportation hear
ing was promised by Immigration
Commissioner Watson Miller yester-
day.
Committee members said also that
Peters may follow the example of
several previous witnesses at the
current Communist hearings and
refuse to answer questions on the
ground Of possible self-incrimina-
ton. There has been speculation
that he might be willing to testify
to the House committee in exchange
for immunity from deportation.
There were no plans for commit
tee sessions, open or closed, before
Wednesday. Representative Nixon.
Republican. of California, and Chief
Investigator Robert E. Stripping YES
terday questioned three former Gov
eminent lawyers described by Mr..
Chambers as having belong to a pre-
war Communist underground aiming
at placing Communists in kew Cow
eminent jobs.
Refuse to Answer,
Mr.. Nixon said they refused on
constitutional grounds to say wheth-
er they knew Mr.. Chmabers or 9TH
ers named by him in connection
with alleged Communist operations
They also refused to answer CUES
lions whether they ever were Com
mun1st Party members.
The witnesses were Lee FRESHMAN
former CLIO counsel and Govern
ment attorney: John Abt, also a
former Government lawyer, now
active in the Wallace for President
campaign, and Nathan Witt. former
secretary of the National Labor Re-
lations Board.
Displaying 1881 and 1913 pictures
of Mr.. Chambers, Mr.. Nixon said
after the session that he had shown
them to each of the witnesses, but
received the same refusal to answer.
Meanwhile, Senators entered the
investigation picture again. Sem
ator Wherry. Republican, of Ne
braska, today accused President
Truman of asking Congress for
rubber stamp approval" Of legis-
lation to deal with subversive ac-
tivities.
stubborn Refusal Hit.
president Truman has stubbornly
refused to provide Congress with in
formation on subversive activities"
Senator Wherry said. This infor-
nation is in the hands Of executive
agencies and needed by Congress
as a guide in taking legislative ac-
ton to curb Communist and related
espionage"
Senator Ferguson. Republican. of
Michigan who heads Senate sub
committee investigation that brought
out testimony of alleged Communist
espionage and infiltration in the
Government, said last night he
would return here next Friday for
further hearings and conferences.
Attorney General Clark and Sen
ator Ferguson may confer personally
in connection with their dispute over
what Senator Ferguson has called
inadequate Government efforts to
keep Communists of Federal pay
rolls
The Attorney General has declared
that the committee investigation
nindered Justice Department efforts.
particularly in presentation of
evidence to a grand jury.
Miller Announces Hearing.
Announcement that a deportation
hearing had been called for J. Peters,
also known as Alexander Stevens,
came late yesterday from Commits
sioner Miller. Previously, Mr.. Nixon
said the committee had made sew
eral attempts to have Mr.. Miller
See PROBE, Page A-2D