◆ SpookStack

oe oy TA re? a Goa 4 Ce ere oe woofs RP. . aaa = js oa, azee a" o aR ee OE bay OU, Se Ee ne WY 65-1659 Cos . a Ie ay * bt mae ed ah lage < 5 ‘ring which, to CROUCH'S inowledge, had been operating fron 193 wnt ee * on least April 1, 1941, when CROUCH left for the West Coast and lost contact with the persons connected with the espionage ring at that time. CROUCH noted that he left the Commnist Party in 1912. ° CROUCH first became acquainted with the operations of the espionage ring, which had eccess to material in the White Housg in the sumer or early fall of 193). At that time, CROUCH was-in New York City ~. . and heard EARL>BROWDER give confidential reports-at Communist Party meetings ” Me. on What be described as proceedings at Cabinet. meetings held’ ‘in. the White ~ - House. BROWDER made reference to a direct source of information which ‘the ~ Communist Party had. BROWDER quoted true or alleged remarks of the President and various Cabinet members. Although CROUCH did not recall any of the details, he said that President ROOSEVELT was quoted at one time as saying that the Government must take means to deal with the increased Communist activities in the country. ; CROUCH'S statement continued” as follows: OL iy eS ns sat ao “Around this sams period, ROB sats, who “naa Gest consider“ able time in Washington, D. C., and who about that time went to Birminghan as District Organizer, spoke in~& conversational way to me and told me of the work that he and HAROLD-#ARE and ‘othefs hdd been doing in the infiltra- tion of the Government, and stated that the Party had been particularly successful in placing people in the Department of Agriculture. I had conver- sations with HALL on this general subject matter over a period of many . years, extending up to the spring of 191. HALL often referred to the Party! 8... successes in 1 key positions both in the Government and in the top leadership - ‘of the C70. e referred to discussions and sometimes identified the home of VIRGI OST as the place where such discussions had taken place. vy? “Yn the same period, I was well acquainted with JOHN # DAVIS, a Negro attorney of Washington, D.C., and DAVIS often spoke to me about his. own work in the infiltration of the Government and of the top leadership of the CIO. ee “Around the end of 1935, GILBERT L. PARKS was transfe rred from either Washington or New York to the Carolina District, apd a letter was sent to me, through confidential channels, from FRED-BROMN him and advising that he was an important comrade to be thoroughly trusted. ~ BROWN later confirmed this in conversations with me and referred to the excellent work that PARKS had done in connection with providing the Party with information about top Government matters and information obtained through White House sources. “PARKS personally told me that he had been recruited " ~— 7 ="2 ‘= * te 7 te ae eS va. he LE: 4 a pa al Oe ee Pe regarding + w¥~ a : ra