Evening star., 1948-08-14

tee yesterday }olloUs:'
On August 3, l94s, upon reading
the full transcript of the testimony
Of Mr.. D. Whitaker Chambers Civ.
en- on that date before the House
Committee on Un-American Activ.
tiles, issued q statement to the
press denying the allegations that
Mr.. Chambers made with respect
TO me.
On August 5, forewarded 9
sworn copy of this statement to the
acting chairman of this committee
and In the covering letter stated
that I was available, willing ano
anxious to appear before your com.
mittee and repeat these denials un.
der oath and answer any questions
which you or any other member o1
the committee may have"
In order that the record will be
clear, I should like to repeat the
statement which / issued to the
press and forwarded to the COM
mittee. In the statement I said:
II have read the full transcript
ef the testimony Of Mr.. D. Whit
taker Chambers given today before
the House Committee on Un-Amer-
lean Activities. Among other things
Mr.. Chambers said that he knew
me as 4 member of the Communist
Party, as one of an elite Communist
group which regularly met in GER
tain apartment in Washington, and
rs the leader of a local Communist
cell. With the exception Of the
facts, which he also stated, that
have an older brother named Alger
Hiss, that I have been employed in
the Department of Labor and State,
and that, as an employe of local
law firm (other than the one he
named, I assisted in rendering
legal service to the Polish Supply
Mission in connection with a loan
granted in 1946 by the Export I'm
port Bank, I fatty deny every state
ment made by Mr.. Chambers with
respect to me.
COmmuulSL 1lcS DCuICus
II am not and never have been
member of the Communist Party
or of any formal or informal or.
ganizations affiliated with or front
Ing In any manner whatsoever fol
the Communist Party. In fact, the
only organizations and clubs te
which I have belonged are the loca
YMCA, the Miles River Yacht Clut
Of Maryland, the old Washington
Racquet Club, the Harvard Law
School Association, the American
Society of International Law, ane
college fraternities and athletic
clubs,
81 have no recollection OF ever
having met any person by the name
Of d. Whitaker Chambers, nor de
I recognize his photograph whicf
I have seen in the public press.
am not and never have been IN sym
pathy with the principles OF the
Communist Party. Any interested
person could easily have discoVereo
these facts by inquiry of any OF the
distinguished, respected and un'
ouestionably loyal Americans WITH
whom I have been intimately as
sociated." .
I appreciate the opportunity te
amplify this general statement o.
denial. Mr.. Chambers testified thai
I met with him and other persons
In the house or apartment OF MI
Henry Collins at st. Matthews Cour'
IN washington in 1887 and ap'
parently prior to 1887. Those otnel
persons named by Mr.. Chamber
were: Mr.. Collins, Mr.. Witt, m!
brother, Ager Hiss; Mr.. Pressman
Mr.. kramer or Krivitsky and MI
Perlo.
Meeting Also Denied.
r denv this categorically, haV'
never been in any apartment o.
nome of Mr. Collins at st. Matthew
Court or at any place else on an!
occasion in 1887 or at any otnel
time, Furthermore, to the best o
INV knowledge, I have never met
have never known and do not Know
any person by the name OF Cnsrle'
kramer or Krivitsky, by the name
of victor Perlo or by the name o.
D. Whitaker Chambers.
T met Mr.. Collins a numoer o!
wears ago, probably in 1888 or 1884
7 have seen him infrequently during
this period and have known MN
only casually. I have never en-
gagged in any political discussions
with him. 50 far as I can remember
Mr.. Pressman and Mr.. Aot / me-
when they were with the Agricui'
ture Adjustment Administrator II
1888 or 1884, and MIR. Witt l nave
known since 1929 when we were
classmates In our first year at the
Harvard Law School. saw Messrs
Pressman, Abt and Witt occasionally
In 1888, 1884 and 1885 when they
were working in the same divislon
Of the Agricultural Adjustment Ad-
ninistration with my brother, Alger
Hiss
To the best Of my knowledge ]
have never seen Mr.. Abt or Mr.. WIT
since 1885. Since 1885 have only
seen Mr.. Pressman a few times ano
then In passing him on the street
except for one occasion in 1s46 when
I saw him and . number OF other
persons 1T the Polish Embassy at
q social function. I attended this
function because at that time I was
working on some legal matters 1or
the Polish Supply Mission.
Work Is Described.
With reference to my work with
the Polish Supply Mission. 1t was
performed in the capacity Of an en-
ployee of my firm until January
1947, when I became partner. II
Is my understanding that the firm
was retained to render legal assist
ance to the Mission some time IN
the last half Of 1s45. The senior
partner Of the firm, Mr.. Edward b
Burlins, and another partner. Mr
Charles Horsky. were In charge ol
the case.
In the early part Of 1s4e, it Is my
recollection, Mr.. Burling assignee
me to assist him due to the fact thai
Mr.. Horsky was in Germany assist
ing the United States Government
S =