Evening star., 1948-08-30
Peters, Elusive
Leader Of Reds,
Gets Subpoena
Faces Probers Today;
Chambers to Testify
On His U. S. Job
BULLETIN

NEW YORK (P.-J. v. Pc
ters, said by Whitaker Cham
bers earlier to be top man in a
Red underground in the United
States, today refused to an
swer questions of a House I'm
American Activities Subcom-
mittee on his alleged Commu-
mist Affiliations. Chambers
then took the stand and re-
ueated his Identification.
HOUSE PROBERS CHECK new
"angles" in espionage ring.
Page AS
By the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Aug. 30.-The
House Committee on Un-Amer-
ican Activities today served al
subpoena on the elusive J. v.
Peters, described by Whitaker
Chambers as the head of the
Communist underground in the
United States.
Peters, who also is known as
Alexander Stevens, was ordered to-
appear at committee hearing
scheduled here for pm. today.
At the same hearing Mr.. Cham
bers, repentant Communist and now
a senior editor of Time magazine,
is scheduled to be a witness. He
will be questioned on his story of
landing Government job while
drawing pay as a Communist under
ground agent.
The subpoena was served on
Peters by a committee investigator
at hearing of the immigration and
Naturalization Service. Peters ap-
peared at the hearing to answer de-
portation charges brought by the
service.
Asked If he would appear at the
House Committees hearing, Peters
said: "I don't know I will have
to consult my counsel"
Held on Deportation Warrant.
Mrs. Carol King, his attorney, said
her client was now under jurisdic-
ton of the immigration Service
which would have to say whether
he could go to the House Committee
session.
The House committee had been
trying to find Peters for months but
was unable to until the immigration
Service said he would be ordered to
appear here today.
Two members of the House COM
mittee, Representatives Nixon of
California and Mcdowell of PENN
sylvania, both Republicans, were
present when the subpoena was
served on Peters.
Peters was arrested on an Immi-
grafton Service deportation warrant
last October 8, and charged with il
legal entry into the United States.
He was freed on $4,000 bond.
The service said at that time that
Peters was a Czech and had come to
this country without a valid immi-
grafton visa on August 3, 1882. Peters
has six aliases, the service said. Mrs.
King said her clients real name is
Alexander Stevens.
Calls 1t illegal Proceeding"
Peters gave his age as 81. He is
q thick-set man with graying hair
and a mustache.
Peters refused to participate in
the immigration hearing in any
way on the advice of. Mrs. King,
who termed 1t an illegal proceed
ing"
After Peters refused to take the
stand, Presiding Inspector Raph
Farb told him that if adverse testi-
mony we're given against him and
he did not testify, an inference
might be drawn from his silence.
After two witnesses had testified,
Mr.. Farb adjourned the hearing
until afternoon but said it would
be put off until tomorrow if Peters
we're detained at the session of the
House committee.
The two witnesses testimony
linked Peters with the name Alex
ander Stevens through f1ngerprints
on an alien registration card and
other documents.
Figures in Hiss Controversy.
The immigration Service said
Peters lives at Kew Gardens in
the Borough of Queens in New York
Peters name has figured in the
sensational row between Mr.. Cham
bers, a prime witness in the House
committees probe of alleged Com
munist infiltration into the Govern
(See COMMUNISTS, Page A-5D
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