Evening star., 1948-08-26
Continued From First Page,

issue in the Hiss-C Chambers con-
troversy.
Mr.. Nixon stated fatty he was
going to find out what happened to
that car II 1t took a year.
Mr.. Nixon charged that Mr.. Hiss
substantially changed the an
swers lie gave yesterday in COM
parlson with those he gave the
committee at executive sessions last
week.
Mr.. Mundt commented that "the
most important testimony now is
Hiss against Hiss
The two members contended that
Mr.. Hiss made positive statements
in executive session about giving or
selling his old car to Mr.. Chambers,
but at an open hearing qualified
most of his answers with "as far as
I can recollect."
II committee members had any
idea either man would break" un-
der the strain of testifying-as some
had hinted In advance-they were
doomed to disappointment yester-
day.
Both Stand by Stories.
Mr.. Hiss, former State Depart
ment official and now president Of
the Carnegie Endowment for Inter-
national Peace, was on the witness
stand from shortly after 1890 am.
until after 6 pm. with q break for
lunch.
Mr.. Chambers, repentant Com
munist and now senior editor Of
Time magazine, spent an hour and
81 minutes on the witness stand.
He stolidly stuck to his accusation
that Mr.. Hiss led Communist cell
in prewar underground here,
obeyed party discipline and paid
party dues.
Mr.. Hiss firmly denied that he
was or ever had been a Communist
or that he even knew any of his
friends were party members.
Said Mr.. Chambers: Mr.. Hiss Is
lying
Said Mr.. Hiss: Il challenge him
(Mr. Chambers to make statements
about me in respect to Communism
in public that he has made to this
committee under privilege"
Denies Grudge Against Hiss.
Through the long questioning Of
Mr.. Hiss, his accuser sat with arms
folded and face expressionless-
even when Mr.. Hiss said he had
been informed that Mr.. Chambers
has spent most of the last four or
five years in a mental institution.
On the stand, however, Mr.. Cham
bers' eyes once filled with tears as
he said brokenly:
He CMr. Hiss) was perhaps my
closest friend-certainly the closest
friend I ever had in the Com
muniSt Party"
The story has spread, he went on,
that he had grudge against Mr..
Hiss, which motivated him to testify
against Mr.. Hiss for the sake of
revenge.
II don't hate Mr.. Hiss" Mr..
Chambers said. I'VE were close
friends. We were caught in the
tragedy of history. Mr.. Hiss repre-
sents a concealed enemy against
which I am fighting and we are all
fighting.
II have testified against him with
remorse and pity, but in the mo-
ment Of historic jeopardy in which
this Nation now stands, so help me
God, I could not do otherwise"
Denies Mental Illness Story.
He was asked directly If he had
ever been treated for mental illness.
Il have never been treated for a
mental illness. Period" Mr.. Cham
bers replied.
Mr.. Hiss said he had learned at
second hand that a former employe
of Time magazine said he under
stood Mr.. Chambers had been in q
mental institution.
In his formal statement, Mr.. Hiss
called Mr.. Chambers a "self-con-
fessed liar, spy, and traitor"
Mr.. Chambers responded, "Per-
maps NE means dS IcIlcShue A1Oii
the Communist Party. I was trail
tor to the Communist Party"
Although the controversy between
the two men started on the issue
of Communist afiiliation and
whether or not Mr.. Hiss had ever
known Mr.. Chambers, the commit
tee sought to resolve the puzzle
yesterday by seeking details of their
acquaintanceship.
As MIR. Mundt explained, the COM
mittee never had any illusion
that it could prove or disprove
party membership. Instead, the
committee, he said, had to test the
credibilty of the two men by veri-
flying what it could check.
Chambers Testimony Stands Up"
"If one is telling the truth or
what can be verified" Mr.. Mund'
explained, "the assumption is he Il
telling the truth on what cannot
be verified"
Then he added. in his summation
to Mr.. Hiss testimony:
"At every point on which we have