Kew York Tirnea, February 2*3, 1940.
DIES INQUIRY VOTES
FOR OPEN HEARINGS'
Rejects Chairman's Plea for
Secret Sessions in Deference
to National Campaign
MOVIE COLONY UNDER FIRE
Dempsey Heads Subcommittee
for Survey of Mexico as
Base for Alien Groups
BiwrW to Tnr Nsw YotK Tims.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 27-The Dies
Committee to Investigate Un-Amer-
ican Activities stated today that
public hearings would continue. In-
quiries will be started soon into al-
leged Communist and Nazi activi-
ties in the motion-picture Industry
and into allegations that Mexico
may be the base for operations by
these groups in the United States.
It was said.
The committee, which has been in
executive session for two days, re-
ported that it had abandoned the
proposal of its chairman. Repre-
sentative Martin Dies of Texas, to
conduct private hearings In order
to avoid charges that Its disclosures
might be of a political nature de-
signed to affect the outcome of this
year's campaigns.
The committee said that its in-
quiry into West Coast Communist
and Nazi activities, particularly in
the motion-picture industry, "will
begin as soon as possible."
Mr. Dies said that Representative
John J. Dempsey of New Mexico
had been named chairman of a sub-
committee to Inquire into charges
that Nazi and Communist agents
were operating from Mexico.
The committee voted also to con-
tinue its Inquiry Into activities of
the Christian Front and the Chris-
tian Mobillzers.
The committee said that it took
under consideration the question of
investigating foreign propaganda
designed to involve the United
States in the European war and
1 added:
"It will announce at a later date
its decision with respect to the
scope of the inquiry along this
line."
The question of appointment of a
new attorney, to take the place of
Rhea Whitley, who resigned, was
not reached by the committee. It
continued other members of its
staff, however.
The committee's announcement of
proceedings said that a motion by
Representative Jerry Voorhls of
California, to change "certain rules
of procedure," was voted down. Mr.
Voorhis was understood to have
urged that "ordinary rules of evi-
dence" govern the committee.
The committee made no mention
; of It In Us press release, but It was
I learned that a move was made to
curtail the activities of J. B. Mat-
thaws, chief investigator, and re-
duce his rank to that of an inves-
tigator. This motion was defeated
by a 4-to-3 vote. *
I.
0.
3.
f\ ti jf- ..... ¦•