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1424 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Ashe. I have noticed lately that he spells it differently than when I knew him. When I knew Will Geer he spelled it G-h-e-r-e, I believe. I think he has since simplified it. Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall whether he played in a picture called the Tall Target or the Man on the Train ? Mr. Ashe. I wouldn't know. Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall whether he played in a picture called Lights Out, at Universal Studio? Mr. Ashe. No; I do not. Mr. Tavenner. Did you meet at that time a person by the name of Hose Elf man ? Mr. Ashe. I have since tried to refresh my memory on her, and at this time I wouldn't want to say under oath whether she is or is not a Communist. I know the woman. I have seen her around meetings. 1 can visualize her at a Hollywood street demonstration that we had, but at this time I cannot positively place the woman as to party affiliation. Mr. Tavenner. You spoke of having met several Japanese at that time. Mr. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Tavenner. Can you recall their names ? Mr. Ashe. No ; I cannot. I might say, however, there were, to the best of my recollection, about 40 Japanese members of the Commu- nist party in Los Angeles. This was their principal concentration point, and they had a nationality commission that was located in Los Angeles contrary to the procedure of other nationality commis- sions. Mr. Tavenner. In the testimony of General Willoughby before the committee several weeks ago relating to the Sorge spy trial in Japan, it developed there was a Japanese by the name of Miyagi who was executed as one of the spies in that spy ring, came from Japan and was a member of the United States Communist Party. In the course of the interrogation of Miyagi in Japan, he referred to certain ac- tivities of the party in California, which I want to call to your atten- tion. In describing the activities in 1930, which I understand Avas earlier than your connection with the party Mr. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Tavenner. He stated that it fostered—meaning by "it" the Communist Party—fostered strikes in the Imperial valley against such large capital concerns as the Girard Co. and the Sun Fruit Co. and agitated among the fishermen and fishing-industry workers in San Pedro. In the course of your activities in the party, did you ob- tain any information relating to those incidents ? Mr. Ashe. I knew about them only from having been told about them by other Communist Party members. I know that at a later date another effort was made to organize the unorganized field workers in Imperial Valley, and I believe also in the San Joaquin Valley. I believe these strikes were broken. I am not too clear now as to the outcome of them. They were Communist-led. Mr. Tavenner. Now, while you were a member of the downtown group of the Communist Party, were you assigned the task of organiz- ing units or sections of the Communist Party or cells of the Commu- nist Party ?