I think you should make a clear statement concerning your opposition, as an American citizen, believing in our American way of life, in contrast to and against the Communist Party international conspiracy. Would you care to make any comment on it?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Carlson. Mr. Chairman, my only comment on that is that I don’t believe in the current, popular opinion of the Communist Party. I don’t believe in that.
Mr. Moulder. In my opinion, I think it is for your best interests to take a different position than you are taking.
Mr. Carlson. Maybe I misunderstand you or you misunderstand me, Mr. Chairman. I don’t believe in the principle that is commonly accorded to the Communist Party, that they are subversive. I don’t want anything to do with that. That they are ready to overthrow the Government, I don’t believe in that. Certainly not.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Carlson. Mr. Chairman, further, if I thought that they did believe in that, or ever believed in that, I certainly never would have had anything to do with them, and I would be most bitterly in opposition.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Tavenner, proceed with the interrogation of the witness.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Carlson, I understood you to say that in 1950 you were not a member of the Communist Party. Is that correct?
(The witness confers with his counsel.)