Mr. O’Connell. About the only contact I had with him, I don’t know whether he personally, but somebody before him, asked me to speak at a convention or meeting they had out in Pittsburgh in November 1937.
Then there was a banquet as I recall; I think after that time, something in the early part of 1938, in New York, where he asked me to speak and, of course, he presided at the banquet in New York. I don’t know whether it was at Pittsburgh, or whether he resided there, or not, but I remember his presiding.
Mr. Velde. Do you have any idea why he asked you to speak before the meeting?
Mr. O’Connell. I think because of my position on foreign policy and particularly on Spain at that time.
Mr. Velde. Did you know any other leaders in the movement for the American League for Peace and Democracy?
Mr. O’Connell. The only one I recall now is Dr. Ward.
Mr. Tavenner. Possibly I can refresh his recollection on that. Wasn’t Earl Browder one of the leaders?
Mr. O’Connell. I don’t know. I really don’t know. If he were, any connection I had with the league—I mean I had certainly nothing to do with him. I mean, he wasn’t involved at the meeting that I spoke to in New York or the meeting I spoke to in Pittsburgh. I never saw Browder or knew he was involved in it.
Mr. Tavenner. In the extract from the minutes of the executive meeting which I read a few moments ago——
Mr. O’Connell. Where was this executive meeting?