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392 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Tavenner. You were present this morning during the tr* A ' mony of Mr. Marc—M-a-r-c—Lawrence? Mr. Carnovsky. I was present. Mr. Tavenner. Were you not? Mr. Carnovsky. Yes. Mr. Tavenner. You no doubt heard his statement that he attended Communist Party meetings in your home. Mr. Carnovsky. I heard everything he said. Mr. Tavenner. Did you hear that statement? Mr. Carnovsky. I heard that statement. Mr. Tavenner. Is that true? Mr. Carnovsky. I decline to answer on the grounds previously stated. Mr. Tavenner. By that you mean that to answer the question of whether or not Communist Party meetings were held in your home might tend to subject you to criminal prosecution? Mr. Carnovsky. That is correct. Mr. Tavenner. Are you now or have you at any time been a mem- ber of the Communist Party? Mr. Carnovsky. Mr. Tavenner, there is no force in Government which can compel a citizen, as I understand it, to disclose his political, social, or religious affiliations. I regard this whole approach as un- warranted prying into the most secret and sacred areas of a man's thought. And since this has already been established in the work of this committee I regretfully and shamefully have to go on to claim my Mr. Woon. Will you answer the question? Mr. Carnovsky. I believe I am answering it. I am about to come to my conclusion. Mr. Wood. You were asked a simple question, whether you are now or have ever been a member of the Communist Party. Mr. Carnovsky. I am giving my answer. Mr. Wood. Do you desire to answer ? Mr. Carnovsky. I am answering it. Mr. Jackson. Is the answer "Yes" or "No" ? Mr. Carnovsky. The answer is now that I claim the protection of the fifth amendment, and I decline to answer on the ground that this would incriminate me. Mr. Tavenner. I have no other questions, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Kearney. I just have one question. When you took the stand here the chairman swore you to an oath in which you said you would tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Do you feel in vour own mind and heart that you have fulfilled that oath? Mr. Carnovsky. I do, sir. Mr. Walter. As I understand your position, you feel that if you would admit that you were the holder of that Communist Party card you might be prosecuted in a criminal case for what you have ad- mitted here. Is that correct? Mr. Carnovsky. I feel that under the fifth amendment I have the right to decline to answer that statement and that question, and I stand on it. Mr. Walter. But, now, let's get this straight. You are fearful, and that is why you invoke the protection given by the fifth amend- ment to people charged with crimes, that the testimony adduced here might be used against you in a criminal proceeding. Is that correct?