Mr. WESTMAN. I will decline to answer that under the fifth amendment. And I would like to go into the reasons why I take the fifth amendment, because under---- Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, the witness has stated his reason as being the fifth amendment, which is a ground, under the circumstances here, I think he is entitled to use. And, therefore, it would not require any speech to accompany it. Mr. MOULDER. Please make a direct answer to the question. We will get along more quickly. Mr. WESTMAN. I said that under the fifth amendment I decline to answer that question, and I would like to just point out, Mr. Chairman, that I do take the fifth amendment because of the fact that it is in the Constitution to protect the innocent, and for the same reason that you gentlemen of Congress have congressional immunity. Mr. MOULDER. You have made yourself clear about the fifth amendment. Mr. TAVENNER. Have you at any time, during the month of March 1955, been the press director of the Communist Party? Mr. WESTMAN. I will decline to answer that under the first and fifth amendments, as, under the first amendment, that is directly inquiring into the freedom of the press and into matters of like nature, and, under the fifth amendment, I decline because such testimony might be construed as testimony against myself. Mr. TAVENNER. Mrs. Barbara Hartle testified before this committee, in June of 1954. In the course of her testimony in identifying various individuals as members of the Communist Party, she stated: Lenus Westman was a member of a club in the central region and lived in that area. Most of his Communist Party activities were in mass work at that time, like the Progressive Party or election work. Tell the committee, please, what knowledge you have of the activities of the Communist Party, if any, within the Progressive Party. Mr. WESTMAN. Well, Mr. Chairman, I will decline to answer that question under the fifth amendment. (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. WESTMAN. I think I have made my point clear on that. Mr. MOULDER. May I ask you a question? Where were you born and reared? Mr. WESTMAN. I was born in Sweden, Umea, Sweden; and came to this country at the age of 7. Mr. MOULDER. How old are you now? Mr. WESTMAN. I am 52 years of age. Mr. MOULDER. Are you a citizen of the United States? Mr. WESTMAN. Yes, I am. Mr. MOULDER. How long have you been a citizen? Mr. WESTMAN. Since 1936. Mr. MOULDER. Have you served in the armed services of the United States? (The witness confers with his counsel.) Mr. WESTMAN. Yes; I have. Mr. MOULDER. What branch of the armed services? Mr. WESTMAN. In the infantry, Army. Mr. MOULDER. For what period of time? Mr. WESTMAN. From July 1942, until February 1943. Mr. MOULDER. Did you receive an honorable discharge from the service? Mr. WESTMAN. Yes; I did. Mr. VELDE. I would like to ask one question. How did you obtain citizenship in this country?