Communist activities in the peace movement (Women Strike for ...

2146 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT
Mrs. Mackenzie. I stand corrected, that excluded from my
previous statement is
Mr. Bruce. I see. Then you are not invoking the fifth amendment?
Mrs. Mackenzie. That is what I said.
Mr. Bruce. Thank you.
Mrs. Mackenzie. I want, if I may, sir, just to make it perfectly
clear. I am not invoking the self-incrimination clause.
Mr. NiTTLE. Now you heard the chairman's opening statement at
the commencement of the hearings?
Mrs. Mackenzie. I did. And it made me feel that he had already
made up his mind about this problem; yes, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. I said, you heard his opening statement?
Mrs. Mackenzie. I did, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Then you are aware that the purpose of this proceeding
is to determine the extent of Communist infiltration in peace
organizations, with particular reference to Women Strike for Peace.
Mrs. Mackenzie. I am sorry. Would you repeat the question?
I didn't hear the first part.
Mr. NiTTLE. I say, you are aware that the subject of inquiry of
these hearings is to determine the extent of Communist infiltration in
peace organizations, particularly with reference to Women Strike for
Peace and a New York group of that organization?
Mrs. Mackenzie. Well, you say so. I assume it is.
Mr. NiTTLE. Now we are not investigating your beliefs, but your
activities so far as they relate to that subject matter.
The committee, the Congress, and the American people are entitled
to know what is the extent of Communist activities in the peace
movement and what Communists are doing in concealing their activities
in such movements.
Is that clear to you?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Mrs. Mackenzie. I have heard it.
Mr. NiTTLE. With that explanation, Mr. Chairman, I think that
the witness should be again directed to answer the question,
Mr. Doyle. I again instruct the witness to answer the question.
And if there is any question about it again, Mrs. Mackenzie, I instruct
you to answer the question.
Mrs. Mackenzie. I have lost track of the question by this time.
Mr. Doyle. All right. May the question be read, please?
Mr. NiTTLE. Before I repeat the question that the committee has
directed this witness to answer, I think I should also state to the
witness that the committee, Mrs. Mackenzie, is in possession of information
that you have been a member of the Communist Party
and that, more particularly, you were a member of the Communist
Party in the year 1943 and that in 1944 you became a member of
the Communist Political Association, a successor in title of the
Communist Party of the United States.
In view of that information and the nature of this committee's
inquiry, I think the pertinency and relevancy of the questions should
be apparent to you and, also, that there is a reasonable basis for
making this inquiry of you.
With that further explanation, I again respectfully request the
chairman to direct you to answer that question.