Hearings regarding the communist infiltration of the motion picture industry. Hearings before the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first session. Public law 601 (section 121, subsection Q (1947)

COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 137 Mr. McGuiNNESS. At that time I would say perhaps 60 jjercent. Mr. Smith. Diirinfj the period of the Hitler-Stalin pact, what occurred at a convention oi the Lea<>ue of American Writers held in New York? Mr. McGuiNNESS. At that time there had been a strike at the North American aircraft factory in In<>;hnvood, Calif. President Roosevelt denounced the strike as Connuunist-inspired and a conspiracy. He sent troops to reopen the plant. There was a convention of the League of American Writers held in New York simultaneously with this occurrence, which was attended by members, either officers or members, of the board of directors of the Screen Writers Guild. A teletiram was dispatched to the President from the convention of the Leai2:ue of American Writers, and sifjned by four members of the executive board, or the board of directors, of tlie Screen Writers Guild. Two of the names I recall. They were Donald Ogden Stewart and John Howard Lawson. In Hollywood there was immediate resentment to this telegi-am signed by officers and members of the board of the Screen AVriters Guikl, and agitation of pi'otest ensued. Presently those four members were forced to resign their official positions in the guild. Mr. Smith. Mr. McGuinness, can you tell us any other Comnumistfront organizations that were formed during the Stalin-Hitler })act? Mr. McGuinness. I think during the Stalin-Hitler })act, during that period front organizations were not particularly popular. They were formed before and after the Hitler-Stalin pact. Mr. Smith. What, if anything, could you tell us about the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League? Mr. McGuinness. The Hollywood Anti-Nazi League was formed with a very sympathetic title which enlisted the support of very many excellent and patriotic Americans in the motion-picture community. Shortly after its organization Mr. Edward Chodorov, a screen writer and playwright, approached Col. Law^rence Stallings, the author of AAHiat Price Glory, and asked him if he and I w^ould serve as cochairmen of the publicity committee of that organization. Colonel Stallings had discussed this with me, and having had some experience with Communist-controlled groups due to my activity in the Screen Writers Guild. I said I would be only too happy to serve if somewhere, either in a statement of j)rinciples, or in the title of the organization, they would specify they were equally opposed to communism. Coloned Stallings carried that message back and was told that was impossible, so neither Colonel Stallings or I served. Mr. Smith. The American Peace Mobilization was formed during the time you referred to, I believe. Have you any comments regarding that ? Mr. McGuinness. The American Peace Mobilization was first formed in Hollywood under the name, I think, of the Emergency Peace Conference. Among the founder members was Herbert Biberman, a motion-pictui-e director. After its fcjrmation in Hollywood it took on national scope, became the American Peace Mobilization, and during the period of the HitlerStalin pact representatives of that organization picketed the White House, denouncing the war as imperialist, and denouncing the President as a warmonger.