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116 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Da Silva. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that the most vital con- cern of this committee is to really control every concept of free thought throughout the country, to do it by attacking Hollywood, and Mr. Wood. This committee is not interested in your opinion. Do you decline to answer the question, or will you answer it ? Mr. Da Silva. It is necessary that I answer it in my own way. It seems vital to say that the object of this committee is a smoke screen. Nobody, either in Washington or Hollywood, thinks there is a group in Hollywood dedicated to overthrow southern California by force and violence. Mr. Wood. You were asked a very simple question, whether at the time you were a member of the organization you were asked about, you were a member of the Communist Party. Mr. Da Silva. Because the very clear intention of this committee is to tie me in with an organization in its disfavor, I refuse to answer the question for the reasons previously stated. Mr. Wood. Let it be understood this committee is not trying to tie you in anywhere. We are endeavoring to find where you tied yourself. Mr. Da Silva. I have a function as a citizen, but I think in this period of war hysteria it is the purpose of this committee to pull the wool over the eyes of the people. Mr. Wood. The committee is not interested in your opinions. We are anxious to get the facts. Mr. Tavenner. Did you attempt to recruit persons into the Com- munist Party from the Federal Theater project while you were a mem- ber of the Federal Theater project ? Mr. Da Silva. I decline to answer that question for the same rea- sons previously stated. Mr. Tavenner. After going to Hollywood, did you become affiliated with the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee there ? Mr. Da Silva. Mr. Chairman, there is a rumor that those who have been anti-German in the last war will be brought before this com- mittee. I must decline to answer the question for reasons previously given. Mr. Kearney. Mr. Chairman, cannot the witness be made to answer "Yes" or "No" or to decline to answer on the grounds he might incrimi- nate himself, without going into a speech. Mr. Wood. It would certainly be appreciated by the committee if he would not air his views and would answer the questions more directly. Mr. Tavenner. Have you been affiliated with the Actors' Laboratory in Hollywood ? Mr. Da Silva. Once again, because it is the purpose of this com- mittee to link me with an organization it considers unfavorable, I decline to answer this question on grounds previously stated. Mr. Wood. Any further comment by you as to the object of this committee will be ignored by the reporter. Mr. Da Silva. I didn't hear you, sir. Mr. Wood. From now on I order stricken from the record any com- ment by you as to the object of this committee. Mr. Da Silva. They seem to me a propos, sir. Mr. Wood. I will permit it to remain so far, but I will not permit you to continue to repeat that.