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COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 3507 Free Political Advocacy was formed for the defense of the 12 Com- munist, leaders who had been indicted. This committee released a statement demanding that the Government stop the prosecution of these Communists. Your name appears as one of the signers of that. Will 3'ou tell the committee the circumstances under which your as- sistance was obtained in that matter? Mr. Odets. I have no memory of that. I see the first line says: Chief Justice James H. Wolf of Utah yesterday denounced the Government's prosecution of the national communist leaders. I know nothing about it. It seems again to be the broadest front sort of thing, and it is possible I signed it. You say my name is here? Mr. Tavenner. Yes. Mr. Odets. I may have signed it, but I have no memory of it. Mr. Tavenner. What do you mean by referring to that article as being the character of the broadest front? Mr. Odets. Well, there are simply so many names of liberals on it. There are so many of our distinguished citizens who have signed this, that I cannot see it as a Communist affair at all. Mr. Tavenxer. But it was in the defense of Communists, and we are interested in knowing how your support was obtained, whether it was obtained through the Communist Party or persons working through the party. Mr. Odets. I would say that most of these, sir, came through the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, oh mimeographed sheets with one, two, or three signatures, as they frequently did. Mr. Tavenner. I show you a photostatic copy of the letterhead of the National Nonpartisan Committee To Defend the Rights of the 12 Communist Leaders. Your name appears thereon as a member. Do you recall your membership in that organization? Mr. Odets. No, I have no recollection even of the name, National Nonpartisan Committee. Mr. Tavenner. Well, do you remember participating in the work of that organization ? Mr. Odets. No, I am certain I didn't participate in the work. If my signature is here, I must have signed it. Mr. Tavenner. WTio approached you for your signature, solicited your signature ? Mr. Odets. Again, this could only be through the usual methods. If they were in a hurry it was a special-delivery letter, and otherwise it was an ordinary postal letter. Mr. Tavenner. According to the Daily Worker of June 23,1949, the Civil Rights Conference held a conference on civil and human rights to be held the following Saturday to discuss ways and means of taking action on behalf of the 11 Communists. You are reported as one of those issuing the call for this conference. Will you tell the committee what prompted you to join in the issuance of the call for a conference by the Civil Rights Congress ? Mr. Odets. Well, I would have joined it only in the defense of civil liberties. Mr. Tavenner. Who solicited your participation in that conference, or rather your issuance of the call ? Mr. Odets. Again I have no memory of it, except that it would have come through the usual mail of the morning.