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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE! INDUSTRY 1521 tee, and the Hollywood Democratic Committee. In 1944 I have a notation of a total of $200, and an organization to which I con- tributed $5 a month during that period was the People's Educational Association. In 1945 I have a notation of $250, partly to People's Educational Association, partly to the Hollywood Independent Citi- zens Committee. In 1946 I have a notation of $500, mainly to the same organizations. This was in addition to my party dues and assess- ments. Mr. Tavenner. Those items, you say, were in addition to the dues and assessments? Mr. Towxsend. Yes. Now, when I was financial director during 1947—the latter part of 1947 and the first half of 1948, I would say, most of the high-salaried writers by that time were not employed, so I never collected a large amount of dues or assessments. I think in these two meetings I had with the section financial director in which I turned over money, I don't think at either time I turned over in excess of $200. Mr. Tavenner. Now, you spoke of an item of $500— Mr. Townsend. That was Mr. Tavenner. Contributed by you personally to certain organiza- tions. Mr. Townsend. Yes. Mr. Tavenner. What was the type of organizations to which you Mr. Townsend. Those which I have read to you. Mr. Tavenner. What instructions did you receive, if any, from the leadership in the Communist Party as to your activity in outside organizations? Mr. Townsend. We were all asked or directed, let me say, to work in what was called a mass organization, whether that be the Screen Writers' Guild, whether it be the Independent Citizens Committee which is now the Arts, Sciences, and Professions Council—we were asked to enter some organization and to work in that organization. Mi-. Tavenner. In other words, your work in those organizations constituted pa it of your assignment Mr. Townsend. Yes. Mr. Tavenner. As a member of the Communist Party? Mr. Townsend. That's right. Mr. Tavenner. Were you a member of the Screen Writers' Guild? Mr. Townsend. Yes, I was. Mr. Tavenner. Will you describe your activity in the Screen Writ- ers' Guild. Mr. Townsend. From the Communist Mr. Tavenner. While n member. Mr. Townsend. Yes. Mr. Tavenner. From the standpoint of your membership in the Communist Party. Mr. Townsend. Well, I attended fraction meetings of the writers within the guild whenever an issue was coming before the membership of the guild, whenever an important election was coming up. I, my- self, served on the board of the guild in 1946 and 1947, I believe, up until the guild elections in 1947. At that time—I must say in my opinion that the Communist minority never controlled the Screen Writers' Guild. The vast majority of the membership somehow