Mr. Moulder. In other words, it leaves the impression you were willing to fight for some other country but you are not willing to fight for the United States of America, your own native country.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Halonen. I refuse to answer the question in regard to the Spanish Civil War.
Mr. Moulder. Proceed, Mr. Tavenner.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Halonen, I don’t want to leave an inference that this committee feels that a person should be criticized by it for any position he or she may take regarding any bill before Congress, but if a certain bill before Congress is being opposed by the Communist Party and the Communist Party is instrumental in creating opposition to it, then the committee would be interested in that fact.
Now I am not attempting to criticize any opposition you may have registered to the Walter-McCarran Act, but, if you did oppose it, I want to know whether or not the Communist Party had anything to do with the position that you took in the matter.
(The witness confers with his counsel.)
Mr. Halonen. I decline to answer that question on the grounds of the fifth amendment, as previously stated.
Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions.
Mr. Moulder. Mr. Velde?