Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 4263 On March 21, 1951, the full membership of the MPIG gave its unanimous ap- proval to a statement which declared: "The MPIC offers its strength and support to any legally constituted body that has as its object the exposure and destruction of the International Communist Party conspiracy. "The MPIC hopes that all members of this industry who have been subpenaed will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It deplores those who stand on constitutional privileges to hide that truth, or those who refuse to recognize the authority of Congress. "To those men and women of this industry who are former members of the Communist Party and who openly admit such membership and conclusively prove that they have repudiated utterly and forever that relationship, the MPIC offers its commendation and encouragement. * * * "On September 17, 1951, the MPIC reiterated that statement, declaring that the industry 'has no sympathy' for those who stand on the first and fifth amendments and again commending those who give the House Committee on Un-American Activities their sincere cooperation in its task of opposing com- munism. "Those were the views of the MPIC on March 21, 1951, and on September 17, 1951. "Those views have not changed one iota. "As in the past, we support the House committee, hopeful that through and as a result of its hearings, ways and means will be provided which will enable the Nation fairly, legally, and effectively to deal with the problem of Communist or subversive elements." Signed: The Motion Picture Industry Council for: Association of Motion Picture Prodcers, Hollywood A. F. L. Film Council, Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, Independent Office Workers, Screen Actors' Guild, Screen Producers' Guild, Screen Story Analysts' Guild, Screen Writers' Guild, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, Society of Motion Picture Art Directors, Unit Pro- duction Managers' Guild. I would like also at this time before beginning the hearings to make this announcement to the public. We are here at the direction of the Congress of the United States trying to discharge the duty and obli- gation that has been placed upon us by the Congress. No one who is present here or who will be present in this room during these hearings, except the witnesses who are subpenaed, are required to be here. You are here by the permission of the committee and not by compulsion of the committee. This committee will not countenance any attempt to make a demonstration, either favorable or unfavorable, toward the committee's undertaking or to what any person called as a witness may have to say. I do not say this in any spirit of threat, but if such conduct should occur, I am going to promptly ask the United States marshal to eject those who start or participate in any demonstration in this hearing room, and if necessary, clear the entire room. Mr. Counsel, who will you call ? Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Roy Huggins. Mr. Wood. Will Mr. Huggins come around, please, sir? Will you have the chair right up here, please, Mr. Huggins. Will you hold your right hand up ? Do you solemnly swear the evidence you shall give this committee shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. Huggins. I do. Mr. Wood. Have a seat, sir. I shall ask the photographers to please refrain from taking pictures while the witness is being sworn. Do