George E. Deatherage, head of the Knights of the White Camellia, who earlier had told the House Committee on Un-American Activities of an international anti-Communist and anti-Semitic organization, expanded his testimony yesterday by relating that he had spent $25,000 of his own money organizing 200 men to fight in a revolution.
Deatherage said that one member of his organization was Ernest Klapprock, former Pacific Coast chief of the Friends of New Germany (now German-American Bund). He testified that he had helped Klapprock get a job with the German Propaganda Office in Berlin and that the latter was now head of the American section of the worldwide anti-Communist congress with headquarters in Germany. Previously, Deatherage had denied any connection with the Bund.
Deatherage asserted that Ulrich Freiherr von Gienanth, press relations officer at the German Embassy, three months ago had told him that there was more anti-Jewish feeling in the United States than in Germany before Hitler, Asked by Mr. Dies if von Gienanth had encouraged him, Deatherage said he had “made no expression.” Deatherage testified that he had gone to the German Embassy to ask how Hitler had financed himself at the start.
Chairman Martin Dies stated today that the committee would ask a $50,000 increase in its $100,000 appropriation so that “we can go into subversive activities more thoroughly.” He said the committee had decided to take an indefinite recess and public bearings may not begin until August. The committee has decided not to hear at this time Major-General George Van Horn Mosetly, retired, he added.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
