Evening star., 1948-08-26
By Robert K. Walsh

their New York hotel room meeting
August II. when Mr.. Chambers
asserted he knew him as a prewar
Communist underground member
here. closed session records OF the
House Committee on american
Activities disclosed today.
This stormy face-to-face meet
ing. held by the committee in ad-'
vance OF yesterdays public con-
frontation," was the high light OF
fve such executive sessions which
dwelt on such varied topics as rare
birds in Washington and the dis
posal OF a 1929 Ford roadster
Closed sessions August 3. T. l6, II
and Is included questioning not
only OF Mr.. Hiss and Mr.. Chambers
separately. as well as special in
terview with Mrs. Hiss. but also
the get-together at the Commodore
Hotel in New York City.
Asked 10 SIT Down.
A. that meeting Mr.. Chambers,
AvoUed former Communist agent
here. identified Mr. Hiss, former
State Department official, as a one
time Communist underground mem
Der with whom he associated from
1898 TO 1898
At this point Mr. Hiss arose and
walked In the direction OF Mr..
Chambers
Hiss: May ! say for the record
at this point that I would like to
invite Mr. Whitaker Chambers to
make those same statements out of
the presence Of this committee, with
out their being privileged for suit
for libel. I challenge YOU TO do it,
and | hope you will do it damned
quickly. | am not going to touch
hum Mr. Hiss addressing Louis j.
Russell. a committee investigator >
"You are touching me
Russell, Please SIT down Mr.
HIS
Hiss. II will Sit down when the
chairman asks me
Acting Chairman Mcdowell.
please sit down
Hiss You know who started
this
OF 10 Bitter start.
Then came a short recess.
Later In the session, according TO
the record. Mr.. Russell stated: "Mr.
Hiss, a moment ago when you arose
and started toward MIR Chambers.
YOU made a remark that | had
touched you. VIII you now tell the
chairman and committee how hard
] touched you2"
Hiss: You didn't touch me hard.
The question OF physical contact is
not always a matter of the force
OF the contact
Russell Il used no force what
ever"
Hiss: II didn't say YOU did. I
said II wasn't necessary to touch
me
The session got of to a bitter be-
ginning when Mr. Hiss arriving at
the hotel room, told the committee
he had Just learned OF the sudden
death OF Harry Dexter White, for
mer Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury. Mr.. White testified before
the committee in open session a few
oavS previously.
L am not sure feel in the best
possible mood for testimony Mr.
Hiss said.
Doesn't Thank Committee
The end OF the hotel room meeting
was even more bitter. according TO
the record
Chairman Thomas said That Is
oil. Thank you very much
Mr.. Hiss retorted. Il don't re-
tlprocate."
Chairman Thomas ordered I'm
derscore that for the record
Mr.. Hiss remarked: Il wish you
would"
Most Of the testimony given at
this and other executive sessions
by Mr.. Chambers and Mr.. Hiss con-
Cerning the Ford car came out at
yesterdays open meeting.
At one point, Mr.. Hiss was quoted
as saying: Mr.. Crosley The had
identified Mr.. Chambers as man
he knew in 1885 as George Crosley)
said that while he was in Washing
ION he wondered if he could get
rented car or something, because he
would like to have it while his fam
lily were with him. l said You came
10 just the right place. I would be
very glad to throw car in because
! have been trying to get rid of
an old car which we have kept SOLE
ly for sentimental reasons and we
couldn't get anything on for a
trade-in or sale"
"Just Turned 1t Over
At the previous days closed ses-
sion here, when asked by Chief
Committee Investigator Robert E.
Stripping if "Crosley" had had a
car, Mr.. Hiss replied: mo knd of
an automobile l sold him an auto
mobile. 1 had an old Ford that I
threw in with the apartment cat
1881 Twenty-eighth street NWD
and had been trying to trade in and
get rid Of"
Representative Nixon: you sold
the carp"
Hiss: Il threw it in. He wanted
a way to get around and / said:
Fine, I want to get rid of it. have
another car let him have it along
with the rent"
Still later, Mr.. Hiss said he did
not think he received ANY compen-
sation" for the Ford.
What kind of a bill of sale did
you give Crosley?' Mr.. STRIPPING
asked.
Il think I just turned it over" Mr..
Hiss answered In the District you
get a certificate of title. I think it is.
think just simply turned it over
to him"
Mrs. Hiss Questioned.
Handed it over to him?" Mr.
Stripping queried
Yes" Mr.. Hiss responded
NO evidence of title? Did you
record the title?" Mr.. Stripping
went on.
That I haven't any idea" Mr.
Hiss said. This is a car which had
been sitting on the streets in SHOWS
for a year or two. I once got a
parking fine because I forgot where
it was parked. We were using the
other car"
Mr. Chambers testified both in