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COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 3523 Miss Lennart. What appeared eventually that led me to this con- clusion, Congressman, was the question of the Duclos letter, in 1945, where suddenly it having been in association the day before which did not believe in the violent overthrow of the Government but believed in the very gradual socialization of the country, suddenly it was again the violent overthrow of the Government. And this was not by an American, but by a man in another country, who I did not believe could know what our problems were here and what the American people would want. Mr. Walter. Then it was the Duclos letter that led you to a realiza- tion that you were a party to a conspiracy, an international con- spiracy ? Miss Lennart. It certainly made me question whether I might not be exactly in that position and the minute I began to question, I left. Mr. Velde. Did I misunderstand you ? I thought you said you left the party in 1944. Miss Lennart. No ; I am sorry I was confusing on that point. I wanted to say in 1944, I started a kind of trickling away from the party, and all of my questions arose through this period, and I did not make, was not able to make, an overnight decision on it. My attendance became more and more erratic, my questions were more and more constant, and the Duclos letter, in 1945, and what happened in the party then, made the final decision for me. The people in my group and I myself questioned this letter. We were told that it had been discussed throughout the country and that the majority decision had been that the letter was correct, and that the party would be reorganized, but with my new skepticism I said, "Who said it has been discussed throughout the country." Mr. Velde. There was quite a lot of dissension among the party members, I presume, over the Duclos letter? Miss Lennart. Yes; there was a great deal, and I believe a great many people left at this time, for this reason. I felt that this was an order that had been introduced for the purpose of discussion. It seemed to me to be an order, and the discussion didn't make any difference. Mr. Walter. Who introduced the letter as a subject for discussion ? Miss Lennart. It was introduced in the group. I don't remember the specific person, one of the people I have mentioned. But we were told it was introduced simultaneously in all groups throughout the country. Mr. Walter. Who told you that ? Miss Lennart. Again, somebody in the group. I seem to remember vaguely that Alvah Bessie had introduced the subject for discussion, but I couldn't swear to that, Congressman, because I don't remember specifically. Mr. Walter. Wasn't it at that time suggested to you that the time had arrived for you to choose sides, you were either for America or for this international conspiracy ? Miss Lennart. I could just say that I chose sides, I left. Mr. Walter. Wasn't it indicated to you at that time that it arrived,, that all of the Communists had to stand up and be counted ? Miss Lennart. I think that is so, yes. At any rate, the meeting about the Duclos letter was the last meeting that I attended. I got