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68 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Jerome. I feel justified resting on my privilege against answer- ing that question. Mr. Wood. But I am trying now to ascertain what your conception is of your privilege. Do you take the position that a question to which you coulcl answer, as in this instance, "No," would incriminate you ? Mr. Jerome. I have answered with my explanation of the expres- sion given by Justice Black in the Rogers decision in the Supreme Court. Mr. Wood. I have it here before me. Mr. Jerome. It would only be reiterating what I said before. Mr. Tavenner. Were you in 1936 connected in any capacity with the cultural commission of the Communist Party ? Mr. Jerome. I decline to answer the question on the grounds of possible self-incrimination. Mr. Tavenner. You were identified as chairman or head of the cul- tural commission of the Communist Party by the Daily Worker of August 7, 1950, and the Daily Peoples World of January 24, 1951, and February 8, 1951. Will you state whether that identification was wrong or correct? Mr. Jerome. I decline to answer that question, resting on my rights against self-incrimination. Mr. Wood. Again, would you say that an answer that that identi- fication is wrong, if true, would incriminate you ? Mr. Jerome. I have stated my understanding, that to answer that question Mr. Wood. Would tend to incriminate you ? Mr. Jerome. Might tend to incriminate me. Mr. Doyle. You knew subsequent to the publication of those papers, those three occasions, that you were listed as that, didn't you ? Mr. Jerome. I decline to answer the question on grounds of possi- ble self-incrimination. Mr. Kearney. If it was not true, did you take any measures to correct it? Mr. Jerome. I must refuse to answer the question on the same grounds. Mr. Tavenner. In the May 22, 1950, issue of the Daily Worker, at page 11, there is contained a tribute from the national cultural commission of the Communist Party to Bob Reed, signed V. J. Jerome, chairman, National Cultural Commission, Communist Party. Did you actually sign a tribute from that commission as its chairman 2 Mr. Jerome. I decline to answer that question, invoking my right against possible self-incrimination. Mr. Tavenner. Bob Reed was a friend of yours, was he not? Mr. Jerome. I decline to answer the question on the grounds of possible self-incrimination. Mr. Tavenner. You have already stated to the committee that you went to California in 1936. Is it not true that the purpose of your trip to California in 1936 was to organize a separate district of the Communist Party in Hollywood, or Los Angeles? Mr. Jerome. I refuse to answer the question, resting on my priv- ilege against self-incrimination. Mr. Tavenner. Was not Stanley Lawrence in charge of Communist activities among the Hollywood group prior to your going there in 1936?