Investigation of Communist Activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 1United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
History
Investigation of Communist Activities in Seattle, Wash., Area, Hearings, Part 1
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
Communism -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Mr. TAVENNER. Then you must have been mistaken as to the year
in which you withdrew from the Communist Party.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. CARLSON. That is possible.
Mr. TAVENNER. I would much rather believe that you were
mistaken than believe you are trying to deceive the committee.
Mr. CARLSON. No. That is not the case.
Mr. TAVENNER. The committee has been interested for quite a
period of time in learning all it can about the method used by the
Communist Party to oppose the Korean war. By opposing the Korean war
I mean opposing the foreign policy of the United States in connection
with that war. What position did the Communist Party take with which
you disagreed?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. CARLSON. I think it is quite common knowledge that, even
from our daily papers, the Communists did support the North Koreans.
Mr. TAVENNER. Yes; but the daily papers do not tell us what
was done in your particular cell or group of the Communist Party, and
that is what we want to know.
Mr. CARLSON. Well, after that war broke out, Mr. Chairman, I
did not participate. I can’t tell what they done because I don’t know.
Mr. TAVENNER. Then why did you disagree with them if you
didn’t know what they were doing?
Mr. CARLSON. Well, you remember, as history shows--according
to the papers, anyway--that in the time before the First World War
broke out, I remember--it just comes to my mind--the papers printed
that the Communist Party members of France tore up their Communist
cards immediately when Russia signed some sort of a pact with Germany.
You probably recall that in your own mind. I think that is a historical
fact. At least the paper files will show that. I recall it that way.
Now the same situation was mine, although I might add, as I have said
before, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as I am
concerned.
Mr. TAVENNER. Did you attend any meeting of the Communist
Party after you wrote the letter on June 19, 1954, to this committee?
(The witness confers with his counsel).
Mr. TAVENNER. Did you attend any meeting of the Communist
Party after the outbreak of the Korean War?
Mr. CARLSON. Not to the best of my recollection; I don’t
believe so.
Mr. TAVENNER. I understand you will not tell this committee
anything about the activities of the Communist Party during the period
when you were a member. Is that correct?
Mr. CARLSON. Because the answer to those questions might tend
to incriminate me, and, on advise of my counsel, I refuse to answer
those questions.
Mr. TAVENNER. I have no further questions.
Mr. MOULDER. Any questions?
Mr. VELDE. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Since the witness is unwilling
to give us any of the information which we are certain he has regarding
his activities in the Communist Party while he was a member, possibly
he would tell us what motivated him to get into the Communist Party, to
join the Communist Party in the first place.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
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