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COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 3487 And further along in the article we find the following: We believe such a congress should create the League of American Writers, affiliated with the International Union of Revolutionary Writers. The program of the League of American Writers would be evolved at the congress, basing itself on the following: Fight against imperialist war and fascism, defend the Soviet Union against capitalist aggression, for the development and strength- ening of the revolutionary labor movement, and so forth. The call was signed by such well known and outstanding Communists as Earl Browder, Theodore Dreiser, Michael Gold, Clarence Hathaway, Herb Kline, John Howard Lawson, Lewis Lozowick, Joseph North, M. J. Olgin, Isidor Schneider, Alexander Trachtenberg, Ella Winter, and Richard White. The congress was held in New York City on April 27, 1935, and the League of American Writers was formed. Did von attend or participate in this congress? Mr. Odets. I have no memory of that, but in that time I would have been glad to attend such a congress. I have no memory, particularly, of attending a congress or a meeting. But I would have been glad to have been there, then, in 1935. Mr. Tavenner. In other words, the purpose as expressed in that met with your approval at that time ? Mr. Odets. "Well, what is there is very highf alutin', very high-flown. I think when I hear it and follow it with my eye as you are reading, it is silly, foolish. But at that time one believed that perhaps all of our problems could be worked out by some kind of socialism, and I believed that then. Mr. Tavenner. I desire to offer the photostatic copy in evidence and ask that it be marked "Odets Exhibit No. 1." Mr. Wood. It shall be admitted. (Photostat referred to was marked for identification "Odets Exhibit No. 1" and filed for the record.) Mr. Tavenner. I show you the official proceedings of that meeting as published by the International Publishers. Will you look at page 188 and state whether your name appears as one of those selected to the National Council of the League of American Writers? Mr. Odets. Yes; I see my name there. Mr. Tavenner. Were you at that time a member of the Communist Party? Mr. Odets. I don't know. I would just offhand guess so, I should say so. Mr. Tavenner. Will you turn now to the last page of the book. Do you not find that the official report closes with this language: When the applause died down, James Farrell arose and suggested that the congress conclude its final session by singing the Internationale. This was done. Do you recall that ? Mr. Odets. No ; I don't remember being at such a meeting. But in those days, these kind of things could happen very easily. Mr. Tavenner. How long were you affiliated with the League of American Writers? Mr. Odets. My memory would be, in any official capacity, for some very short time. It might have been a year. I told you that I began to have quarrels with them in public on their platforms at their meet- ings. I attended a number of meetings of the League of American writers. Mr. Tavenner. What do you mean you had quarrels ?