Originator: FBI
From: LA
To: HQ
Document date: 1941-10-11 00:00:00
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

# DOCID-32338708

## Page 1

Released under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#t:NW

• 54578 Date: 11-29-2021

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

RECORD SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

5/13/201

FBI

124-90143-10126

HQ

100-370750-NR

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

FROM:

TO:

TITLE:

FBI

LA

HQ

DATE: 10/11/1941

'PAGES:

18

SUBJECTS:

HERBERT BIBERMAN

JOHN HOWARD LAWSON

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 10/09/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS:

RPT

v9.1

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## Page 2

PANISH NTIAL

FEDERAL BUREAU OFMINVESTIGATION

Form No. I

HEREIN AS UNCLASSIFISD

THIS CASE ORIGINATED AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

SXCEET WHERE SHORN

OTINGHISA

FILE NO. 100-6769

REPORT MADE AT

DATE WHEN MADE.

PERIOD FOR

REPORT MADE BY

WHICH MADE

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

10/11/12

10/4-11/42

THONAS E. MYERS

TITLE

CHANGED

HERBERT BIBERMAN;

(/10/115p.l0jal0259456

JOHN HOWARDELAWSON

• SECURITY (R)

ahb

Dadassly on: our 4.10570

SYNOPSIS OF FACTS:

EDWARD CARTER, at BIBERIAN's dirootion, arrivod

LOs AngeLes 10/0/11; bonference immediately hold

at BIBERMAN's home with objootive high pressure

on HARRY CRANDLER, Owner of Los Angoles times,

to support comittee for Medioal Ald to Russia.

Reception held at CHANDLER's homo evening of 10/8/41

and luncheon neeting attended by prominent oittsens

10/9, both sponsored by CHANDLER at solloitation

JANE MEADE, with BIBERVAN collaborating. MEADE

reported to BIBERMAN that objective apparently.

da dyed. BIE id not attend of ther funotion le

his directional aotivitios and current 11lness

noted. Confllot of russian relief organisatione

will be settled by BIBERMAN, roguest BORIS INGSTER.

2 0

Continuing surveillance discloses Sübjeot in contact

with FRANK TUTLE, allogod important Communist Farty

member ho reaides near him, date on WUllE sot out.

Communist Party designation of BIBERMAN and JOHN

HOWARD LAWSON as in charge "Intelleotuals and

Motion Picture Comradea" oited.

Confidential Informant

desoribes LAWSON as leading U. S. Connuniat who has

long advocated that "revolution should cone here even

with bloodshed if necessary". BIBERMANt complote

rocord of Communist front aotivities set out;

Custodial Detention Memorande on BIBERMAN and LAWSON

submitted.

DECLASON IPO DYSPS

ON

Миру

• P

APPROVED AND

SPECIAL AGENT

IN CHARGE

+. 7

[aus

ORIGINAL

AL

COF

S OF THIS REPORT

5 - Bureau

2 - New York

2 - Los Angeles

DO NOT. WRITE IN THESE SPACES

100-370750-

serenerat

62

AUG

U. 8. GOTERNMENT PRENTAVE OFFICE

7--2034

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Lincoln Brigade members in Spain, he 1s now closely associated with

them and to active in Communist Party work. The same Informant states

that MARCUS lives at TUTTLE'S home and has stated that he could have

married TUTTLE'S daughter, aged 17. TUTTLE was associated with BIBERMAN

in sponsoring the Motion Ploture Democratic Committee and the Hollywood

, League for Denocratic Action, former Communist front organizations; and

he is described by various Informants as a rabid Communist. Dr. FRANK

KNOWLIN, proprietor of a Rest Hollyrood hospital has advised that he has

personally attended parties at the TUTILE residence, to which prominent

Hollywood personages were Invited. Russian entertainers performed at

these parties and Russian motion pictures were shown. The parties usually

lasted all night, and as the guests left, they were usually presented for

signature with a chock drawn on their own banke in sums ranging as high

as 41,000.00, "for the cause." The Infomant stated that it was a matter

of connon knowledge that these checks were for the Communist farty, though

he was not cortain as to the identities of the payees of the checks.

Various Informants have advised that TUTTLE was concerned with

program; one of the associates of TUTTLE was overheard to say, "By the time

we get this picture out, the Government will have us either in Leavenworth

Penitentlary or in a concentration camp."

Tulius was described by JOHN L. LEBCH, a forner Communist Party

organizer and member of the Communist Party State Executive Committee in sworn

testimony before a Grand Jury as an active organiser for the advancement of

the Communist cause.

As of interest to this Investigation, attention is invited to

a better from the Denver Field Division to ail Field Divisions and the

Bureau, dated August 11, 1941. Acconpanying sold letter was a menorandun

entitled, "Communist Party Set-Up." This purported to be a list of revisions

in the Communiat Party set-up nationally, and it was obtained by Denver

Confidential Intormant Dr. 57, from a source which that Informant described

as the Communist Party letter received by JANIS ALLANDER, 'District Organizer

of the Communist Party, District #19, Denver, Colorado.

The memorandum:

recited changes in personnel and office addresses in Communist Party

Districts 1 to 23, and in conrection with District #13, California and

Nevada, it contained the following statament:

"JOHN HOWARD LAWSON with

HERBERT BIBERMAN will be in control of the Intellectuals and Motion Picture

Comrades in the Hollywood area."

It is recaled that the Bureau letter

• of August 7, 1941;

-: 7.

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"sohoduled speaker at the Univorsity of California Peace Strike, sponsored

by a cormuniat groupe.

Hollywood Anti-lazi League.

"BIBRIAN was, as sorly as November I, 1938, a mambor of the

w1th a monan named ELIZABETH MeNANUS, at 6305 Yuode Avenuo, Los Angeles.

"The Western Work, a Camunist Party publication, issue of

March 22, 1937, page 3, indicates that HERBERT BIBERMAN is a member of

the Executive Board of the Motion Pioture Artiats Cormittee, with filned

a Red picture.

The Western Worker, 1eaue of June 13, 193% indiatos

that BIBIRMAN attended e San Francisco symposium on 'Negilan versus

Democracy'

"the Pooplets World, the successor to the Western Worker,

in the My 25, 1938 Jesuo, page 2, reported BIBERIAN a member of the

Sponsoring Conmittee of the Hollywood Citizon News strike.

"(Tho foregoing is taken from the file entitled, 'EBRBERT

BIBERIAN, ET Alod Internal Socurity; 100-13.)

"Extracts from the September 15 and 22, 1937, issues of

Hollywood Now!, the official publication of the Hollywood League for

Denooratio Aotion, refloot that HERBERT BIBERVANT Is a member of the

Intional Board of the Amerion Union for Concerted Peace Efforte; and

that ho is sotive in the Union's various efforte. The thion, in sooking

an effectite poace polloy for the United States, sponsored a mags meeting

on Septenber 15, 1939, to bring together active Congressional District:

workers from both major parties with a view to winning Congressional

support for "gonuine American neutrality during this war period.

(It is interesting to note that BIBERMAN later resigned from the Union

when it changed its nome and becane pro-ßritich.) (61-76-54s Gorman

Aotivitios in the United States.)

"In May 1940, Confidential Informant SP-1 reported that HERBERY

BIBERIAN was one of the sponsors of the Anti-Preparedness Meetings at the

University of California at Los Angeles and the City Collego at Los Angelos

during the latter part of lay 1940.

Informant desoribed BIBERIAN as &

'Hollywood producer and member of the donnittee for Denocratio Action;

Communist Farty, Hollywood Sections The Yanks are not Coning Cornitteas

and the Koep Out of Var Connittee.' (61-375-ll, page 33; Communist Party.

U.Su4., 15th Distriot; Regletration Aot; report of Special Agent R. L. KING

dated 9/1/40 at San Franoisco.)

, - 10 .

dtirz19157

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"During the surmor of 1940, Confidential Informant SPel roported

that while in the vicinity of Long Beach and Ocean Park, in an effort to

got the reaction of the Commists in that arcs to tho activity of the FBI.

he had spoken to HERBERT BIBERIAN, and in rosponse to leading questiong

BIBERMAN stated, 'You know, comrado, those fellows, of the FBI aro not bad

followo, after all, they aro following the instructions they get fron that

cocktail drinker, J, EDGAR HOOVER; thet's the Follow who atire up all the

trouble, not the

second fiddlore, but we are going to get rid of him right

You know we have a lot of friends in Washington and that's what

is going to happon to the great detective. The Informant also stated

that BIBERIAN, in explanation of the statement, 'cocktail drinker', said

that he happened to know that HOOVER, WALTER WINCHELL; and a few

otherg of the lew York and Mashington cooktall lounge patrons are making

a big show of patriotiom unile in thoso places, and that ADAM LAPIN, the

Communist writer in Washington, D. C., le having these big ahota ahadowed

and that before long. BIBERMAN emphasised, these poople are going to be

exposed with photographs and many other corroborating proofs. Adoording

to informant, BIBERMAN also stated that IPIN's Inowlodge of whet goes on

in Washington will be the basis of great book which will be in the hands

of the American people at the proper time. (61-375-15, pago 19s Communist

Perty, U.S.A,, 13th Distriots Registration Aot; report of Spocial Agent

R. L. KING dated 9/7/40 at San Frencisco.)

"A letter to the Bureau dated June 7, 1940, reflects that this

office received two pamphlets from an anonymous source entitled, "Chanberlain

Count us Outs, and "Let's Skip the Next War', which pamphlets contain

Information that additional copies may be obtained from Hollywood Peace

Forum, 6413 Hollywood Boulovard, Hollywood, Califoria, the officors of

which are listed as HERBERT BIBERIAN, Chairman, JOMY WEXLEY, Vice Chairman,

and GUY ENDORE, Secrotary, Treasurer. The Bureau, in a lster dated July 22,

1940 furnished the information that a review of the Bureau's files, reflected

that HERBERT BIBERIAN is & former director of the Theater Guild in Los Angeles,

as one of the original signers of the Deolaration of Democratio Independence,

which was addreseed to the Prosident to end economic connectione with

Germany, that he spoke at the rally of movie stars, the purpose of which was

to send aid to Spain.

The Daily Worker is given as the sourco of this

information. BIBERIAN also represented the Hollywood Ant1-Nari Loague in

a speech before the Congress of the American League for Peace and Donooracy

in 1939, at which timo he spoke againet MARTIN DIES. (65-1902; Hollywood

Peace Foruuo)

"The Socialiat Call of September 14, 1940, on pago 7, reported

thet HERBERT BIBERIAN, one of the membors of the 'Cultural' front of the

American Peace Mobilization, is one of the old

stand-bys in Conmunist front

organizations: (100-0-5722.)

• 11

AS IS P

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GONN

NUT TIAL

"The filo contains a fivo-page mimeographed artiolo entitled,

'He Who Ride Himself Shall Dig', based on a spoech delivered to the

Hollywood Peace Forun by HERBERI BIBERIAN.

The content of the article

and the theme are gathered fron several pretaging paragrapha, a part

of which is quoted as follows;

"This is not written for imporialists.

•¿ If you can calm down fron your nervousness over Germany's invasion

of Anerica at somo future time .... and'give a littla attention to a

very real invasion taking place right now upon your home, and not by

foreigners but by American inperialists - then porhaps you will, be it

ever so little, unkid yourself.'

"ROBERT V. REILLY, Chaiman, Amerioanism' Connittoo, Veterans

Servide League,

submitted a report dated June 5, 1940, which reflecte

that on May 30, 1940, HERBERT BIBERMAN spoke at the Bay Cities Woman'g

Poaco Couneil, Lagle Hall, 23232 Main Street, Ocean Park, Califomia, on

the toplo, 'The Yanks Aren't Coning'. At thie neeting, BIBBRIAN adnitted

that he organized a movement against war and proparedness among the high

sohools, colleges and women's groups of the state,

As usual, he socused

the press of preparing to plunge this country into war.

"The same report reflocts thet HERBERT BIBERIAN, Chairman

of the Hollywood Peave Forum, organized 'The Yanke Are Not Coming Club

of santa lionion, Califomia', which club met overy Thursday night at

115 Arizona Avenuo, Santa Monioa, Califoria. (61-79-191 and 353:

Communist File - General.)

"Confidential Informant LA-20 submitted, under date of June 8,

1940, a report covering the Pease Assembly at the Los Angeles City Hall

steps, followed by a mooting at the Olympic Auditorium on the evening

of the same date.

It was estimated that 10,000 to 16,000 persons gathered

at the City Fall stope and the assomblagema described as a typical

Everywhere in evidence were the

Mayor FLETCHER BONRON of Los Angoles, when he took the speaker's stand,

was roundly applauded, but when he launched into a tirade denouncing

Communism, Naziism and Fasoism, he tas greeted with rounds of boos'.

HERBERT BIBERIAN introduced Mayor BOWRON to the gathering.

"At the subsequent meeting at the Olympio Auditorium, where

approximatoly 6,000 peoplo gathered, a lengthy and carofully planned

program' for the organication of the Peace Cresade was launched.

HERBERT

BIBERMAN was the principal speaker and offered a proclamation to bo

sent to the Prosident. It was he who outlined the organisation of the

Poaco Crusade and exhorted all to stimulate the novenent so that the

Peace Crusade will be the first ald to American peace. One infomant

- 13-

CONNEL

AL

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"desoribed BIBERMAN as one of the most menacing figuros in local. revo-

that quality which maices him equal to any exigency. BIBERMAN warned

the crowd that the present war hystoris 1e endangering American civil

that the threat to deport HARRY BRIDGES and the organization of the Red

squad in Los Angeles were examples of the growing threat.

"OSCAR FUSS, Los Angeles President of the Workers Alliance

and a member of the communist Party, as also present at the demonatration

at the City lall and the subsequent meeting at the Olympic Auditoriun,

FUSS was prominent with the leaders, HERBERT BIBERMAN, GUY ENDORE, SAM

ORNITZ, and JOHN STAPP. (61-529-l4s confidential reports of Confidential

Informant LoA. 20. 62-1937-4, 5. 61-553-30; Workers Alliance of Cal1f.;

meno randun dated 11/9/40.)

"On June 9, 1910, Confidential Informant sp-l reported that

HERBERT BIBERIAN 18 on the Los Angeles Peace Ballot Committee, and he

described him as the Communist chairman of the Hollywood Peace Forull.

(61-375-15, page 40; Carmunist Party, U.S.A., 13th Districts Registration

Aot; report of Special Agent R. L. King dated 9/7/10 at sen Praneiaco.)

"Confidential Informant IA-20 sulmitted a report covering the

Hollywood Town leeting sponsored by the Hollywood Peace Forun at the

Embasay Auditoriun, Los Angeles, on June 21, 1940. An amouncement of

the meting appeared in the Peoplo's World of June 21, 1910, page 5.

Participants were: GUY ENDORE, Chairman, HERBERT BIBERMAN, SAM ORNITZ,

and PROFESSOR HERBERT ALEXANDER, Speakers.

BIBIRAN attacked Prosident

Roosevelt's appointment of a National Defense Counoil of Industrialiste

and Monopolists, stating that they did not represent the people. BIBERMAN

in his talk reviowed his work for the past two or three years in the

peace novement. He olained that he me a sort of organiser for the

election of President Roosevelt and worked for hin constantly, and that

ho had gone back East to help organise the Anerican Union for Consentrated

Peace Efforts in New Iork. A year ago as a result, National Security and

Peace Weok was held throughout the country under the auspices of the Union

for Concentrated Paaco Efforts.

He claimed that he stood by ROOSEVELT

until he begen to help the Allies. BIBERMAN pointed out that in the meantime

the American Union for Conoontrated Peave Efforts had becone the Committee to

Aid the Allios and is baoked by the League of Nations. He attacked the

committee to Ald the Allies and urged all to support the one and only peace

organisation, the American Peace Crusado.

BIBERMAN was, until his resignation,

a member of the National Committee or Board of the American Union for

Concentrated Peace Efforts.

(100-1972-1; Comunistio Front Aotivities,

from Confidential Informant LA-19-)

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