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)

384 COMMUNISM IN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY The Chairman. That is fine. Thank you very much. Proceed. Mr. Bessie. It is my understanding of the first amendment to our Constitution that it expressly forbids Congress to pass any law which shall abridge freedom of speech or of opinion. And it is my understanding of the f miction of congressional committees that they are set up by the Congress for the express purpose of inquiring into matter that may lead to the initiation of legislation in the Congress. Now either the Constitution and its Bill of Rights mean what they say or they do not mean what they say. Either the first amendment is binding upon Congress and all legislative bodies of our Government, or it means nothing at all. I cannot agree with this so-called committee in its implied belief that the Bill of Rights means whatever this body chooses it to mean, or is applicable only to those with whose opinions this committee is in agreement. Those are the first two paragraphs. Now, the last two paragraphs. In calling me from my home this body hopes also to rake over the smoldering embers of the war that was fought in Spain from 1938 to 1939. This body, in all its previous manifestations, is on record as believing that support of the Spanish Republic was and is subversive, un-American, and Communist-inspired. That lie was originally spawned by Hitler and Franco, and the majority of the American people — in fact, the majority of the people of the world — never believed it. And I want it on the record at this point that I not only supported the Spanish Republic but that it was my high privilege and the greatest honor I have ever enjoyed to have been a volunteer soldier in the ranks of its International Brigades throughout 1938. And I shall continue to support the Spanish Republic until the Spanish people in their majesty and power remove Francisco Franco and all his supporters and reestablish the legal government Franco and his Nazi and Italian Fascist soldiers overthrew. The understanding that led me to fight in Spain for that republic, and my experience in that war, teach me that this committee is engaged in precisely the identical activities engaged in by un-Spanish committees, un-German committees, and un-Italian committees which preceded it in every country which eventually succumbed to fascism. I will never aid or abet such a committee in its patent attempt to foster the sort of intimidation and terror that is the inevitable precursor of a Fascist regime. And I therefore restate my conviction that this body has no legal authority to pry into the mind or activities of any American who believes, as I do, in the Constitution, and who is willing at any time to fight to preserve it— as I fought to preserve it m Spain. . , ^ . . The Chairman. And now, Mr. Bessie, m accordance with our agreement, the whole statement will be placed in the record. Mr. Bessie. Thank you. (The statement is as follows:) Statement of Alvah Bessie to the House Committee on Un-Amekican Activities It is mv understanding of tlie first amendment to our Constitution that it expressly forbids Congress to pass any law which shall abridge freedom of speech or of opinion. And it is my understanding of the function of congressional committees that they are set up by the Congress for the express purpose of inquiring into matter that may lead to "the initiation of legislation iu the Congress.