Communist Heads Claim Charges Are “Frame-up”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22707, 4 August 1948, Page 7

Communist Heads Claim Charges Are “Frame-up”

(10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 3. The American Communist Party did not aim at overthrowing the United States Government by violence, and Elizabeth Bentley’s allegations of Communist espionage activities for the Soviet were part of a “frame-up” campaign, three Communist leaders told the opening session of the party’s annual convention last night.

The leaders were Mr. William Foster, national chairman, Mr. Eugene Dennis, general secretary, and Mr. John Williamson, a member of the national board.

All three are under Federal indictment on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the United States Government by force.

Miss Bentley, who was a key witness in the hearings leading to their indictment, is now giving evidence before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Mr. Williamson said: "The Republicans, Democrats and powerful monopoly interests they represent are trying to keep the people from thinking about their trouble by feeding them with ‘thriller - differs’ about ‘beautiful blondes' who turn out to be homely brunettes and ‘spy rings’ that never happened at all." Mr. Dennis said: "We Communists don’t advocate force or violence. _As Marxists we are opposed in principle to adventurism, terror, assassination, conspiracies and coup d’etat.” Mr. Foster denied that the Communist Party was trying to dominate Henry Wallace's Progressive Party. He declared that the Progressive Party's ticket would rally Americans who are "determined that our people shall not be butchered for Waff Street's profit and glory.” In addition to Mr. Foster, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Williamson, nine other leading Communists, who are under the same Federal indictment, were present. They were resoundingly cheered as they took their places on the platform in Medisan Square Garden. There were no hammer anr sickle flags among the decorations.

Mr. Foster announced in a keynote address that the party was offering no candidate in ihe Congressional elections in November. The Communists are supporting Mr. Wallace’s Progressive J’ai'ty.