somejew > story about the Chofetz Chaim is obviously a lie.
I already wrote a response but I checked last night but I checked in Kitzur Toldos Chayav for the exact quote the son of the CC said he heard from him which makes me believe the story is possible. The CC said about the Zionists “Tzu fuhn azelecher kehn epes gutes arois” (Even from those types something good can come out) He said it in the context of his opposition to Zionists in general but his support for resettlement of Eretz Yisroel