Dies Acts Against Pelley for Not Registering As German Agent’

Chairman Martin Dies denounced William Dudley Pelley as "undoubtedly an agent for Nazi Germany" at today’s meeting of the House Committee Investigating un-American Activities. He said he was asking the Department of Justice to prosecute Pelley under the law requiring registration of propagandists for foreign countries.

Evidence showing Pelley carried on an extensive correspondence with the agency of the German Propaganda Ministry at Hamburg was introduced by Committee Investigator Robert Barker.

Barker disclosed new details of the activities of Pelley, Asheville publisher, whose presses roll out tons of anti-Jewish literature. Barker disclosed that Pelley received long distance phone calls from an unlisted telephone within the U.S. Senate Office Building. Who made the calls was unknown.

A connection between Pelley and Royal Oak, Michigan, home of Father Coughlin, was indicated by a telegram from Pelley to Royal Oak. Pelley’s wife spent some time in Royal Oak, Barker said.

As the Bureau of Internal Revenue began an investigation of Pelley’s income tax payments, Barker put his revenue over an eight-year period at $216,039. In the years 1934-38 Pelley paid $216 income tax.

Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German-American Bund, may be recalled as a witness to explain his failure to produce proof he had promised of a link between prominent American Jews and Stalin. Kuhn had promised to send to the committee clippings telling of visits to Stalin of Samuel Untermyer and Bernard Baruch.

Rhea Whitley, committee counsel, said Kuhn had repeatedly been asked to produce these clippings without results. "This is definite proof," said Rep. J. P. Thomas, that Kuhn is a professional hater who cannot back up his own statements and should be discredited by his own followers."