Mr. Mamantov. When mother heard this word from Marina, she couldn't talk to her any more or ask her any questions, because this stage of the person becoming a full time member Communist was most dangerous for the people in Russia or in Latvia or in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Belin. What do you mean by most dangerous?
Mrs. Gravitis. I mean that this is the most dangerous stage, because this person or during this stage, they are spying on other people. They are spying on other people to gain personal reward from the communistic people.
Mr. Belin. In other words, they had to do certain deeds when they go to the last stage, which is the actual Communist membership, is that it?
Mrs. Gravitis. Yes. I also said in the previous conversation, which I can assure you that this is true, which I know from my personal experience. When I was teaching from 1940 until 1941, people like this, who were in this particular stage, who were not yet members of the Communist Party, were spying on me, listening behind the door when I was teaching in the class, and this way it is my experience from that.
Mr. Belin. I believe that she said that a very small percentage of the Russians are actual members of the Communist Party, and that it is the screening process that gets memberships, is that correct?
Mr. Mamantov. Yes. It is a small percent of population are the members, are the actual members of the Communist Party, and to become, they have to gain reward. I mean, they have to be advanced by the individual deed.
Mr. Belin. About what percent are members of the Communist Party?
Mr. Mamantov. Are you asking her at that time when she left or what it is now?
Mr. Belin. Both.