Evening star., 1948-08-12
Fay Studies Perjury Action in Red Spy Probe
Continued From First Page J

to mean he did not belong to the
Communist Party.
do you want to change your
answer?" Mr.. Nixon asked the wit
ness.
u do not want to change my
answer" the witness replied.
Warned by Nixon.
Mr.. Nixon warned him that he
could be committing perjury if he
did not change his answer. When
the witness refused to amend his
replies. Mr.. Nixon told him:
TN my opinion, you have COM
mitted perjury"
Mr.. Thomas, at another point in
the questioning, said naturally you
want to defend yourself" He asked
Miss Bentley, whom the witness
earlier had refused to identify, to
rise again.
"Is that Miss Bentley?" Mr.
Thomas asked, pointing at the
avowed ex-spy.
You have pointed her out as
Miss Bentley" the witness replied.
II must take your word for it.
You would not know of your own
knowledge If that is Miss Bentley?"
Mr. Thomas persisted.
That's correct" the witness re-
piled.
Mr.. Nixon asked the witness if
he believed it was wrong to furnish
classified information to Soviet
agents during the war at the time
Russia was this countTy's ally.
"I have no opinion" the witness
replied.
Representative Hebert, Democrat,
of Louisiana, precipitated an eX-
change which found the witness
banging his hand on the table
and shouting his replies.
Mr.. Hebert pointed out that form
ST, which Government employees
must sign, asks directly if the
prospective employe is Commu-
mist Party member. Mr.. Hebert
wanted to know Mr.. Kramer's reply.
Il don't recall" the witness said,
and stuck to that answer through
repeated questioning.
= Mr.. Hebert then asked the wit
ness if he would defend the United
States in a war against England.
The witness said he would do
everything my country called on
me to do The witness was asked
the same question about France and
italy and finally about Russia. He
gave the same answer.
Considers u. S. His Country.
what country do you consider
yours?" Mr.. Hebert asked.
The witness replied that he con-
sidered the United States his coun- /
try and owed his allegiance to this
country.
Have you always?" Mr.. Hebert
shot back.
Il certainly have" the witness re-
piled.
Mr.. Hebert wanted to know why
he refused to answer questions If
that were true.
This is no forum for accusations
and charges" the witness declared.
AS the exchange grew heated
and Mr.. Thomas tried to intercede,
Mr.. Hebert shouted at Mr.. Kramer:
You know you have sold your
Government down the river
To Answer in Proper Forum"
The witness wanted to know why
the committee didn't trust the
proper authorities. He said he
would answer questions in the
proper forum"
You don't have to answer to me"
Mr.. Hebert retorted. You can
answer to the American people.
That's the proper forum"
AS the witness repeatedly refused
to answer on grounds of self-in-
elimination and cited the Fifth
Amendment, Mr. Mcdowell declared
that it is utterly ridiculous that
we sit here and hear these people
rest on the Constitution to protect
themselves from going to Jail"
Earlier. Mr.. Kramer said that he
now does research work for Henry
Wallace's Progressive Party and lives
In Arlington.
His Government employment, he
testified, began with the Agricultural