1919. He is a member of the bar in the State of New Jersey and was admitted to the bar of that State during the year 1921. Mr. STRIPLING. When and where did Mr. Josephson become an American citizen? Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Josephson became an American citizen in Newark, N. J., on April 25, 1921. Mr. STRIPLING. Did your investigation disclose that Mr. Josephson wes or has been a member of the Communist Party? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. During the year 1926, Leon Josephson became a member of the Communist Party of the United States. He was what has been termed a member at large of the Communist Party of the United States. Mr. RANKIN. A what? Mr. RUSSELL. A member at large. Mr. RANKIN. A member at large. How large? I mean, how much territory does it cover? Mr. RUSSELL. He was not a member of any particular branch of the American Communist Party. Mr. RANKIN. Then he might be considered as just a member of the commintern; a representative of the commintern? Mr. RUSSELL. He could be, yes, sir. Mr. STRIPLING. Did you determine whether or not Mr. Josephson had ever practiced law? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. During the year 1926, Leon Josephson began the practice of law in Trenton, N. J. He continued in the practice of law until the year 1934. However, during the year 1932 he was an employee of the AMTORG trading corporation, an agency of Soviet Russia, the Soviet Russian Government. Mr. STRIPLING. Just a moment, Mr. Russell. Is that the official trading agency of the Soviet Government? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes, sir. That is the official trading agency of the Soviet Government in the United States. Mr. STRIPLING. Is it still in operation? Mr. RUSSELL. That was 1932. Mr. STRIPLING. With what other organizations, or organization, was Leon Josephson connected while he was engaged in the practice of law during the years you have mentioned? Mr. RUSSELL. During the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, while Josephson was making trips to and from Europe, he was an attorney for the Communist front organization formerly known as the International Labor Defense which is now a part of the Civil Rights Congress. Mr. STRIPLING. The International Labor Defense, Mr. Russell, are you familiar with that organization? Mr. RUSSELL. Somewhat. Mr. STRIPLING. Who is the president of the International Labor Defense who was the president? Mr. RUSSELL. Vito Marcantonio. Mr. STRIPLING. When did it become the Civil Rights Congress? Mr. RUSSELL. During the latter part of the year 1946 the International Labor Defense and the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties merged into the Civil Rights Congress. Mr. STRIPLING. Are you aware of who occupies the presidency at the present time of the Civil Rights Congress? Mr. RUSSELL. No, I am not. Mr. RANKIN. Is that a Communist front organization? Mr. RUSSELL. Well, there was a merger of the two organizations, which have been cited as Communist fronts by the Attorney General of the United States, the International Labor Defense being what was termed the "legal arm" of the Communist party, and the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties being what was termed as a part of the "solar system of organizations," as described by Lenin. Mr. STRIPLING. In your investigation, Mr. Russell, did you determine whether or not Mr. Josephson had ever made any trip to Europe? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. During the year 1923 Leon Josephson went to Soviet Russia. He again went to Soviet Russia in 1930. In 1927 he went to Berlin, Germany. While he was in Berlin he was the victim of a robbery. During the robbery Josephson lost between $500 and $600. It has never been determined whether there were any political implications involved in that robbery. Mr. STRIPLING. Did your investigation disclose that Leon Josephson, while connected with the International Labor Defense, was also associated with other important individuals? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. While Leon Josephson was associated with the International Labor Defense he became acquainted with one Harry Kwiet. Harry Kwiet was interested in a case in Gastonia, N. C., which involved the murder of the chief of police in Gastonia. Mr. STRIPLING. What year was that? Mr. RUSSELL. 1929. Kwiet was later to play a part in the international false passport ring which was being operated for the benefit of the international Communist movement. Mr. STRIPLING. Mr. Russell, the committee, in a previous hearing on February 6, 1947, disclosed that Leon Josephson had been instrumental in the securing of a false passport for one Gerhart Eisler who used the name Samuel Liptzen to secure this passport. Will you describe for the committee the results of your investigation regarding Josephson's connection with the procurement of the passport by Gerhart Eisler under the name of Samuel Liptzen? Mr. RUSSELL. Two days before the passport in question was obtained by Gerhart Eisler under the name of Samuel Liptzen, Leon Josephson and Harry Kwiet, whose name has been mentioned before as an acquaintance whom Leon Josephson met while active in the International Labor Defense, met and Kwiet requested Josephson to assist in the securing of a passport for an important member of the Communist espionage underground. Josephson agreed to help Kwiet obtain this passport and at this meeting it was agreed that Kwiet would meet Josephson the following morning in a cafeteria located near Thirty-second Street and Broadway, New York City. On that morning, August 30, 1934, Leon Josephson, Harry Kwiet, and Gerhart Eisler met in the cafeteria and proceeded to the passport office of the State Department, which was then located on Broad Street, in New York City. In the passport office Josephson executed the passport application for Gerhart Eisler. This application was executed in the name of Samuel Liptzen. The name of the identifying witness, who was Harry Kwiet, was written on the application as Bernard A. Hirschfield. This name was written by Leon Josephson. The name "Hirschfield" was taken from the last name of Leon Josephson's mother, whose maiden name was Bertha Hirschfield. The information contained in the passport application executed by Leon Josephson under the name of Samuel Liptzen was taken by Josephson from the naturalization papers of Samuel Liptzen. The name of Samuel Liptzen was written on the application by Gerhart Eisler in the presence of Leon Josephson. Mr. STRIPLING. Mr. Chairman, that is the passport which figured in the hearing on February the 6th, which Mr. Eisler used to go to Russia on two different occasions. Mr. RANKIN. Who signed it? Mr. STRIPLING. It was signed by Gerhart Eisler, we believe. Mr. Alwyn Cole, Chief Document Examiner for the Treasury Department, will testify this morning concerning the signature. What Mr Russell has just testified to is that the name of the identifying witness which is carried on this passport application was Bernard A. Hirschfield, and sworn to, was in fact the handrwiting of Leon Josephson. There is no Bernard A. Hirschfield. An inquiry was made at the address which was listed, which is 720 West End Avenue, New York City. It happened to be a hotel. No Hirschfield had ever been registered there, but at the time of the passport, there was a Leon Josephson registered at the hotel. Mr. RANKIN. Did you find where these people lived, Mr. Russell; where this Josephson lived? Mr. RUSSELL. As to Gerhard Eisler, we have never been able to determine his address. However, later we will attempt to establish the fact that he could have resided with Samuel Liptzen at the time this passport was executed. We cannot establish that definitely, However, with reference to Harry Kwiet it might be stated that he is now dead and it cannot be determined how well he knew Gerhart Eisler. However, it is interesting to note that Harry Kwiet on March 19, 1936, attempted to obtain a false passport under the name of Edward Riggs. On March 24, 1936, when Kwiet called at the passport office in New York City to pick up the passport, he was arrested by agents of the State Department. Kwiet, at the time of his arrest, had a notebook in his possession which contained the name of Leon Josephson. Mr. RANKIN. Did you find where Josephson lives now? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. 161 West Sixteenth Street, New York City. Mr. RANKIN. Was it a house? Mr. RUSSELL. An apartment house. Mr. RANKIN. Apartment house? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes, sir. Mr. RANKIN. Who lived with him, if anyone? Mr. RUSSELL. His brother Barney and Leon Josephson's wife Lucy, so far as I know. Mr. RANKIN. Anyone else? Mr. RUSSELL. No, not as far as I know. I think Leon Josephson has a son, a small son who lives there. The CHAIRMAN. Go ahead. Mr. STRIPLING. Did your investigation disclose that Barney Josephson, the brother of Leon Josephson, had also made trips to Europe? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. On December 29, 1934, Barney Josephsonthe brother of Leon-went to Europe, supposedly to Spain. The date of his sailing on December 29, 1934, preceded a voyage made by his brother Leon by 4 days on January 2, 1935. At the time of Barney Josephson's voyage to Europe he was unemployed and there was some question as to the manner in which he obtained the funds for this journey. Mr. STRIPLING. Mr. Russell, at that point: Are you familiar with the present activities of Barney Josephson? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. Barney Josephson is one of the incorporators of the J. & J. Catering Co. and also an incorporator of Cafe Society, which operates Cafe Society Uptown and Cafe Society Downtown in New York City. During the year 1946, Barney Josephson was a sponsor of the Spanish Refugee Appeal, which is a branch of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee. Mr. STRIPLING. That is the same organization which paid regular funds to Mr. Gerhart Eisler while he was in the country in 1941? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. Mr. STRIPLING. Until he was arrested by the Department of Justice? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Let the record show that Mr. Wood is present. Mr. STRIPLING. Let me ask you this question: On any of the trips that Leon Josephson made to Europe, was he accompanied by any other persons? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. When he left the United States on January 21, 1935, he was accompanied by one George Mink. Mr. STRIPLING. Can you identify for the committee who George Mink is? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. George Mink was an enlisted agent of the Soviet Government who had been active in the maritime unions in the United States prior to his embarkation for Europe with Leon Josephson on January 2, 1935. These two individuals had been acquainted with each other since the year 1929. Mr. RANKIN. Did you investigate or get a list of the occupants of this apartment house that Josephson lived in? Mr. RUSSELL. No, we did not obtain that. Mr. STRIPLING. Mr. Russell, will you describe for the committee the type of work in which Josephson and Mink were engaged in after their arrival in Europe? Before you answer that: I would like to state, Mr. Chairman, that numerous witnesses before the Special Committee on Un-American Activities and also before the Committee on Un-American Activities have testified as to the espionage activities of George Mink, and there will be considerable evidence placed in the record today concerning his activities. Go ahead, Mr. Russell. Mr. RUSSELL. From the date of the arrival of Josephson and Mink in Europe, which was on January 10, 1935, until March 8, 1935, they were associated in the Communist underground movement in Europe. They were principally active in Denmark. Associated with Mink and Josephson in the underground espionage network in Europe was one Nicholas Sherman The CHAIRMAN. How is it spelled? Mr. RUSSELL. S-h-e-r-m-a-n. He is also sometimes referred to as Shireman, S-h-i-r-e-m-a-n. Sherman has also been reported to the committee as a passport imposter. Sherman was introduced to Josephson by Mink upon the arrival of the latter two in Denmark. The underground network in which Mink, Josephson and Sherman operated was active in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, Vienna, and Karlsbad. The expenses of this espionage network were paid by the Communist underground forces in Europe. Mr. STRIPLING. Were Josephson, Mink, and Sherman ever arrested in connection with their activities in Europe? Mr. RUSSELL. Yes. On March 8, 1935, or about that date, perhaps it was March the 6th-there is a conflict in the dates which I have obtained, although I believe the actual date was March 6, 1935-on that date George Mink and Nichols Sherman were arrested by the Danish police in Copenhagen, along with several other persons, one of these persons being Leon Josephson. These persons were charged with having fake passports in their possession and with espionage. The CHAIRMAN. May I ask right there who arrested them in Denmark? Mr. RUSSELL. The Danish police. Mr. STRIPLING. What were the circumstances which led up to the arrest? Mr. RUSSELL. George Mink, because of the fact that he had become involved with a woman who reported him to the Danish authorities, was responsible for the breaking of the espionage network by the Danish authorities. After Mink had been reported by this woman the Danish police searched his hotel room and found a number of incriminating documents and included among the documents were several pasports which obviously contained the photograph of George Mink. Mr. STRIPLING. How many passports did Mr. Mink have on him? Mr. RUSSELL. He is reported to have had four. Two of these have played a part in the investigation conducted by me. Mr. STRIPLING. At this point, Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a part of the record certain documents which have been obtained from the files of the State Department. They are official dispatches and documents obtained from the Consulate General at Copenhagen, and also from the files of the Passport Division. The CHAIRMAN. What was the name of the Consulate General in Copenhagen? Mr. STRIPLING. I will read that into the record, if I may. The CHAIRMAN. All right. Mr. STRIPLING. It is signed by Mr. Maynard. The CHAIRMAN. This is, as I understand it a document taken from the files of the State Department and signed by Mr. Maynard who was the consulate general in Copenhagen. Mr. STRIPLING. That is true. I am not going to read that document at this time. I am going to read other material from the files first. [Reading:] Leon Josephson, a naturalized citizen, was arrested in Denmark in February 1935, charged with espionage. About the same time two of his associates, George |