Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-13

reside at 1853 Gaylor road, Scarsdale,
N. Y.
appreciate this opportunity af-
forded me by the Committee to ap-
pear at my request and to answer
false statements and misleading
suggestions which have been made
concerning me in prior testimony
before this committee.
First, some facts concerning my
background and history. was born
IN 1902 in Nova Scotia. Canada. My
father, a Canadian citizen, was OF
Scottish ancestry. My mother, nee
Alice Eisenhauer, also a Canadian
citizen, is of German descent. In
1911 and again in 1918 my family
spent the year in the United States
where I attended school. I took my
undergrad uate university work at
London University and then came
to Harvard in 1925 where I did my
graduate work and received my
Ph.p. degree and remained as q
teacher Of economics. Shortly after
coming to Harvard I took out my
first papers applying for United
states citizenship My naturallza-
ton was completed in 1884.
While at Harvard was of1ered a
position in the Treasury Depart
noent. In 1884 I accepted 1t ano
came to Washington, where WORKED
under Mr.. Mariner Eccles until ne
was made chairman of the Federal
Reserve Board later in that year,
went with him to the board as
assistant director of research.
Appointed in 1889.
Tn 1899 I was appointed by Pres
tdent Roosevelt as administrative
assistant to the President with spe-
cial duties in the fields of economics.
retained that position until 1945,
during which time l was twice sent
to China to confer with General
issimo Chang Kai-shek. during
part Of this period. In 1943-4, con-
currently held the Office of deputy
administrator Of the Foreign Eco
nonoic Administration. In early
1a45, on behalf of the Secretary OF
State, 1 headed a wartime trade ana
financial mission to Switzerland.
In 1945 l resigned from Govern
ment service to enter private nusl-
ness and I am now president OF
rsuchlin Currie 81 Co., engaged IN
the export-import business, with
ofices at SOS Fifth avenue, New
York.
NV name has been brought into
the proceedings before this commit
tee through the testimony OF MISS
Eliza beth Bentley and Mr.. N. Greg
orv Silvermaster. Miss Bentley ao-
nitted to YOU that she had never
met me and had never seen me ana
had never had any communication
with me. The statements made by
her about me were, as noted by
CONGRESSMAN Rankin, heresay three
times removed. I, on my part, WISH
TO assert unequivocably that I never
met. saw, nor had any communlca-
tion with Miss Bentley. The hrst
time I ever heard her name was
when 7 learned Of the testimony
which she gave the committee.
Never a Communist.
understand that there Is no
accusation that I am or ever nave
heen a. Communist. Nevertheless,
welcome this opportunity to state
again under oath. as did before the
Federal grand jury, convened IN
the Eastern District OF New YORK 10
Investigate the charges similar 70
those before this committee, that l
am not and never have been a
Communist, a member Of the Coms
munist Party, a believer 9nsthe
tenets or doctrines OF communism
ard that I have never been AFFILIATED
with any organization or group
.vnrpathetic with the doctrines OF
communism or engaged in further
ing that cause. I have never hao
ss1v reason to believe that any
friends of mine or even acqualnt-
ances or associates were Commu-
nists.
understand that there are three
charges made against me: flrst'
that I stated to A. G. Sllverman
that the United States was ABOUT
To break the Russian code, 1n1orma-
tion which he is said to have re-
ported to N. Gregory Silvermaster,
who in turn reported 1t to MISS
BENTLEY. who in turn reported IL
TO contacts of hers in the Russian
government. The second charge Is
that was used by persons acting
with Miss Bentley and on behalf
Of q Communist spy ring to place
or protect persons in that ring IN
positions in the United States Gov
eminent.
This charge specifically relates to
nv alleged interference to save N.
Gregory Silvermaster in an investl-
cation which threatened his tenure
in Government Office. The third
charge is that I disclosed inside
information" about China to per-
sons named by Miss Bentley.
Denies Knowing of Code.
First, as regards my alleged COM
munication to A. G. Silverman.
knew both Silverman and Silver
master under circumstances which
I shall relate. I wish at this point,
however. to deny emphatically that
I ever stated to Silverman. Silver
master, or anyone else that the
United States was about to break
the Russian or any other code. l
did not know during the war, nor do
/ know now, that any branch OF the
Government or of its military forces
attempted to or was about to break
the Russian code. l knew nothing
and know nothing about whatever
work was done in connection with
our own Or foreign codes. 1t is
obvious that it would lend note
of plausibility to the story of code
+ breaking to attribute it to someone
on the White House staff
I have stated that I knew both
Silverman and Silvermaster My
work as Administrative Assistant
to the President was in the field of
economics. In the course of this
work I not only came in contact
with all, or practically all, the econ
omists in the Government, but was
called upon to work with them. to
give them advice, to express opin-