East German cartoon contained in study of Communist propaganda directed against United States and West German army. Translation reads, "They drum the old tune and say: 'Defense' and my 'profit'!" Published by Karl Motz & Co., Schongau, West Germany, May 1961. PROCUREMENT CHAIRMAN Cartoon from "The Nation" magazine, October 28, 1961, "Juggernaut--The Warfare State," by Fred J. Cook (p. 305). (See also illustrations on pages 21502165 of the subcommittee hearings.) QUESTION OF COMMUNIST EXPLOITATION OF U.S. PUBLICATIONS Senator THURMOND. To what extent do some elements of the U.S. press, apparently unfamiliar with this Communist cold war technique, designed to weaken our military forces, open itself to exploitation by Communist propaganda? Mr. SYLVESTER. Excuse me, Senator, to what extent is the American press Senator THURMOND. To what extent do some elements of the U.S. press, apparently unfamiliar with this Communist cold war technique, designed to weaken our military forces, open itself to exploitation by Communist propaganda? Mr. SYLVESTER. Are you speaking of the daily newspapers? Senator THURMOND. I am speaking of the press-newspapers, dailies, weeklies, magazines such as the Nation, New York Post, Washington Post, New York Times, and many others. Mr. SYLVESTER. You are using press in its generic term? Senator THURMOND. I did not say all of the press. I said to what extent do some elements of the U.S. press. Mr. SYLVESTER. Are you speaking to newspapers only, are you speaking to all publications that appear in print? Senator THURMOND. Any publication that lends itself to propaganda exploitation. Mr. SYLVESTER. Well, I can only answer the ones I am familiar with. I am not familiar with any of them that are lending themselves to any Communist line. The ones I am familiar with are not. Senator THURMOND. You don't know of any that do? Mr. SYLVESTER. I said the ones that I am familiar with, and I am speaking now of newspapers and national magazines. This is in the general field to which I can speak. There may be other publications that PUBLICATION OF STATEMENTS BY GUS HALL Senator THURMOND. In other words, you do not recall, for example. the announcement made by Gus Hall that his primary goal was the military and its anti-Communist education in seminars? Do you recall that statement made by Gus Hall in 1961? Mr. SYLVESTER. No; I do not remember. Senator THURMOND. This was printed in a Communist publication. Mr. SYLVESTER. That would be why I would not know it. Senator THURMOND. And you remember how it was picked up in the New York Times and how articles were written in the Washington Post and how articles came out in some of these Nation and other magazines? Mr. SYLVESTER. No; I have no independent recollection of it. Frankly, I do not pay very much attention to what Mr. Hall says. Senator THURMOND. It is important, though, to read what papers say after he makes such a statement, is it not? Mr. SYLVESTER. I would not think so, no. Senator THURMOND. I say if they follow his line? Mr. SYLVESTER. I would not think so. Senator THURMOND. If a newspaper or magazine follows his line, you do not think it is important? Mr. SYLVESTER. Aside from the Daily Worker, I know of no newspaper or publication that follows his line. COMMUNIST AND PRO-COMMUNIST PRESS IN UNITED STATES Senator THURMOND. How about the Communist and pro-Communist press in the United States? Does it respond to Soviet-inspired anti-United States propaganda? Mr. SYLVESTER. I presume, Senator, if there is a Communist press in the United States, it would. I am not aware of any Communist press in the United States aside from the Daily Worker. NATION MAGAZINE Senator THURMOND. Are you familiar with the Nation magazine? Have you ever read it? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, I have read it. Senator THURMOND. Would you call that a pro-Communist publication? Mr. SYLVESTER. No, I do not think I would. I haven't read it in recent years very much because I find it rather boring. Senator THURMOND. Are you familiar with the reports of the House Committee on Un-American Activities? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, I am. Senator THURMOND. Have you ever seen a letter written by Mr. Walter, chairman of this committee, to the Honorable Herbert Brownell, Attorney General of the United States, dated June 5, 1956, in which he identified Cary McWilliams, editor of Nation magazine. as a Communist? it? Mr. SYLVESTER. No. Senator THURMOND. Would you like to see it now? Mr. SYLVESTER. I would be delighted. Senator THURMOND. Is it not important that you know these things! Mr. SYLVESTER. Do your records show what Mr. Brownell did about DISCUSSION ON PRO-COMMUNIST PRESS OUTLETS IN THE UNITED STATES Senator THURMOND. You would have to ask the Justice Department about that. You do not know whether segments of the press in this country respond to Soviet-inspired anti-United States military propaganda? Mr. SYLVESTER. I know of no responsible segments of the press that respond to Soviet propaganda, no. Senator THURMOND. Mr. Secretary, can you tell us how many known pro-Communist press outlets there are in the United States? Mr. SYLVESTER. There is an assumption in your question which makes it very difficult for me to answer-known by whom? Senator THURMOND. I asked you if you knew how many pro-Communist press outlets there are in the United States and can you name any of them. Mr. SYLVESTER. The assumption is that there are some and I have already testified that I do not know of any responsible newspaper or publication that is a pro-Communist outlet. Senator THURMOND. Then let me give you some. In your position, it seems you ought to have some knowledge of these: Mainstream, which is a monthly Communist cultural literary organ, published in New York. Mr. SYLVESTER. Do you know what its circulation is? Senator THURMOND. Why are you interested in that? Mr. SYLVESTER. It would have some bearing on the impact of the thing. Senator THURMOND. I imagine you might be interested in getting the circulation of all of these when I am through. Mr. SYLVESTER. I will. Senator THURMOND. Political Affairs, provides a means to inform Communists on the correct party views and to provide policy guidance for Communist propaganda. Nok Vilaga, Hungarian monthly periodical. New York Beacon, organ of the New York Monthly for the Committee for the Protection of the Foreign-Born. New World Review, which has continuously operated, for 22 years, as an educational media of the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, Inc., which is a cited organization. Vanguard, cited as official newspaper for the Marxist-LeninistCommunist Party. Party Voice, an internal publication of the Communists distributed in New York State. National Guardian, although denying affiliation with the Communist Party, consistently promotes official Communist propaganda as discussed by the Soviets. National Lawyers Guild Quarterly, official publication of National Lawyers Guild. You are not familiar with any of those publications? Mr. SYLVESTER. I am not familiar with them. I recognize one or two names, but I am not familiar with them and I can assure you from knowledge that none of them are on the newsstands of any of the Armed Services. 80752-62-pt. 6—28 Senator THURMOND. I could mention several dozen other publications that have direct links with the Communist propaganda and subversive apparatus, particularly in the New York metropolitan area. Now, in your important position in dealing with public news media and its influence on the Armed Forces, have you had a study made of such publications since you undertook your present job? Mr. SYLVESTER. No, I have not, Senator. But I can assure you as I did before, because I know the list, that none of those are on sale on any Defense Establishment newsstand. Senator THURMOND. How many press outlets are there which readily and sympathetically respond to Communist manipulations in the United States? Mr. SYLVESTER. I know of no responsible press outlets. HARM OF NON-COMMUNIST PUBLICATIONS FOLLOWING COMMUNIST LINE Senator THURMOND. In the interest of time, let me tell you what we have found in our investigation of the past 8 months. I estimate there are approximately 150 front activities in the New York metropolitan area alone which promote the distribution of Communist periodicals, propaganda, handbills, posters, and other agitational materials. Some of these are genuinely motivated, pacifist and disarmament-type organizations, that have been partially influenced by Communist agitators to make them respond to the propaganda signals of the Kremlin. In testimony of several highly experienced military intelligence officers, it has been clearly demonstrated that the influence by Communist fronts on uninformed American youth is a common problem. The comment made by Lieutenant Colonel Burns, Security Office, at West Point, indicated that there was less antimilitary propaganda coming directly from the Communist Party and more from those loosely affiliated or even non-Communist organizations. Is it not true that a non-Communist publication which would follow the Communist line unwittingly might do more harm than an identified Communist publication, because the public would be on guard against the latter? Mr. SYLVESTER. I am not sure whether this is a statement of yours you want me to validate or a question. Senator THURMOND. It is a question. Mr. SYLVESTER. I didn't get it. Senator THURMOND. Is it not true that a non-Communist publication which follows the Communist line unwittingly might do more harm than an identified Communist publication because the public would be on guard against the latter? Mr. SYLVESTER. I can see that. DOD ACTION ON PUBLICATIONS FOLLOWING COMMUNIST LINE Senator THURMOND. The pattern established during these hearings reflects, in my opinion, the all-out campaign, started by the Communist Party in the United States approximately 111⁄2 years ago, to seek affiliation or alliance with non-Communist organizations that could be made to promote Communist propaganda objectives under the cloak of their apparent respectability. It has become increasingly difficult to expose in time identifiable Communist agitators and their specific programs |