Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

64 COMMUNISM EST MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY decline to tell us to what publications you have made such literary con- tributions. What is your objection to giving the committee the benefit of that information ? How can that possibly incriminate you ? Mr. Jerome. I can only repeat my answer to a similar question be- fore, that I must exercise my discretion in understanding the applica- bility of the privilege to the situation and the specific question put to me. Mr. Wood. Of course we are going to have to accept that answer, or that declination to answer the question, but I think you must real- ize it places the committee in a very peculiar position of not being able to understand what is in your mind in declining to answer it. As to most of the questions, you would be protected under the statute of limitations, anyhow. Mr. Doyle. May I ask a question, Mr. Chairman ? Mr. Wood. Mr. Doyle. Mr. Doyle. I believe you said, "I have been a writer, an editor. In fact, it was my main occupation." Do you remember that? Mr. Jerome. Yes. Mr. Doyle. In answer to Mr. Potter's question, or Mr. Velde's ques- tion, you said you believe this is a legally constituted committee of Congress. You said that ? Mr. Jerome. Yes. Mr. Doyle. As one group of Americans talking to another Ameri- can—even if you are naturalized—don't you think it is within the province of the representatives of the American people to go into the question of the main occupation of people as American citizens ? You testified that was your main occupation—writing ? Mr. Jerome. Yes. Mr. Doyle. Wherein, then, are we in error in asking you what you did during the time you were in your main occupation ? If so, where are we in error ? How could it incriminate you to frankly and honestly tell us how you engaged yourself in your main occupation, which you have told us was writing ? I am not assuming, in asking you that question, that you have been violating any law. I assume you have in all your writings been a patriotic American writer. But you do raise a question in my mind, if you refuse to tell us as one American to another American group, you cause a doubt in my mind as to whether or not you have told us the truth about what your main occupation was. Are you ashamed of it or is it because you have been in violation of law or committed some public wrong or what? Have you been associated with men and women who have been trying to overthrow our Govern- ment in their writings, have they been paying you, or what ? I don't understand. Mr. Jerome. Let me answer this way: Of course, this committee is entitled to pursue its questioning in terms of its best understanding of how to carry through its set task of this morning or any other occasion. But this committee certainly also realizes that it does this within the framework of certain constitutional guarantees that are open to Americans, and which we have a right to claim on certain bases. When I claim them I am not setting myself outside the range of Americanism, but I am exercising a right afforded me by the American Constitution. Mr. Walter. That goes to the possibility of being prosecuted crimi- nally. If the statute of limitations has run, what possible danger