PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE
UNITED STATES

HEARINGS

BEFORE A

SPECIAL

COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS

THIRD SESSION

ON

H. Res. 282

TO INVESTIGATE (1) THE EXTENT, CHARACTER, AND OBJECTS
OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES, (2) THE DIFFUSION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF
SUBVERSIVE AND UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA THAT IS INSTI-
GATED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES OR OF A DOMESTIC ORIGIN
AND ATTACKS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FORM OF GOVERN-
MENT AS GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION, AND (3) ALL
OTHER QUESTIONS IN RELATION THERETO THAT WOULD AID
CONGRESS IN ANY NECESSARY REMEDIAL

LEGISLATION

VOLUME 12

FEBRUARY 7, 8, 10, MARCH 25, 28, 29, APRIL 2, 3, 4, 1940
AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

Printed for the use of the Special Committee on Un-American Activities

40

INVESTIGATION OF UN-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA
ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

h 3-24-42-7k

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1940

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES,
Washington, D. C.

The committee met at 2:30 p. m., Hon. Joe Starnes (acting chairman) presiding. Also present were Representatives Dempsey, Mason, Thomas, Voorhis, and Casey, members of the committee.

Mr. STARNES. The committee will come to order. The committee is called into session this afternoon for the purpose of receiving some testimony from Mr. Pelley concerning the activities of the Silver Shirt Legion, the work of that group, and its membership. I think it is fair to state that the chairman of the full committee is not present due to his continued illness, and the record should show at this time that the committee is having to operate without the benefit of an attorney and its regular investigating staff.

Also, I wish it to be shown as a matter of record that Mr. Robert B. Barker, who was commissioned by the chairman of the committee to conduct an investigation of Mr. Pelley and the Silver Shirt Legion is not present. He, too, has been ill, but I may now announce to the committee that he is out and we expect him to be present tomorrow or Friday for a continuation of these hearings.

With the consent of the full committee, I suggest that the witness be sworn, that a preliminary examination be held this afternoon, and then that the hearing be adjourned over until tomorrow, in order that the members of the committee may be more adequately prepared to help in the presentation of this investigation in this particular case. The committee is interested only in ascertaining the truth and the facts concerning Mr. Pelley and his organization. We are not concerned with anything else. The committee's work is finished. when we have completed the examination of Mr. Pelley and his record and notified him that he is no longer needed as to the testimony in connection with this particular case.

Mr. Pelley, we are meeting in this room and the acoustics are bad and we are some distance from each other and we will speak as loud as we can and you also, we will have to ask you to speak rather distinctly. Please stand up and be sworn.

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM DUDLEY PELLEY, HEAD OF THE SILVER SHIRT LEGION

Mr. STARNES. At the present time you are under subpena, Mr. Pelley?

Mr. PELLEY. I am, sir.