INGS REGARDING COMMUNIST ESPIONAGE IN THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE MITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTIETH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION Public Law 601 (Section 121, Subsection Q (2)) JULY 31; AUGUST 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, rinted for the use of the Committee on Un-American Activities UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1948 COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES J. PARNELL THOMAS, New Jersey, Chairman KARL E. MUNDT, South Dakota JOHN S. WOOD, Georgia ROBERT E. STRIPLING, Chief Investigator NOTE. These hearings begin with page 501, in accordance with the system of cor numbering adopted by the committee during the second session, Eightieth Congress. Pa 1-500 are contained in Hearings on Proposed Legislation to Curb or Control the Co Party of the United States. II HEARINGS REGARDING COMMUNIST ESPIONAGE IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1948 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:45 a. m., in the committee room of the Committee on Un-American Activities, Hon. J. Parnell Thomas (chairman) presiding. Committee members present: Representatives J. Parnell Thomas (chairman), Richard M. Nixon, John McDowell, Karl E. Mundt, John E. Rankin, J. Hardin Peterson, and F. Edward Hébert. Staff members present: Robert E. Stripling, chief investigator; Louis Russell, William Wheeler, Donald T. Appell, and Robert Gaston, investigators; Benjamin Mandel, director of research; and A. S. Poore, editor, for the committee. The CHAIRMAN. The meeting will come to order. The record will show that those present are Mr. Mundt, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Nixon, Mr. Rankin, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Hébert, and Mr. Thomas, and a quorum is present. Mr. Stripling, the first witness. Mr. STRIPLING. The first witness, Mr. Chairman, will be Miss Elizabeth T. Bentley. Miss Bentley, will you stand and be sworn? The CHAIRMAN. Miss Bentley, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Miss BENTLEY. I do. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Stripling, before you start asking questions, the Chair would like to make a short statement. Over a year ago this committee started to investigate espionage in the Government. We have had many witnesses in executive session, all of whom testified on this subject. The testimony received by us confirms in great detail the conclusions drawn by your investigative staff, and confirms the fact that there is a tremendous need for such an investigation and exposure and a conviction in many cases in this country. We regret that the matter has not been prosecuted long before this. We believe that the matter should be prosecuted without further delay, and the committee recommends that a special grand jury be convened in Washington, D. C., in order to give special attention to the matter of espionage in the Government, and to bring the matter to an early conclusion. |