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| “to: Director, AGITATION AMONG NEGROES IN THE BIRMINGHA FIELD DIVISION ; 210-7-1,2 that neither the negro nor the whites wanted trouble, but that if mis- } informed individuals did not cease their activities, the situation is liable to become most serious, This again is another inference. It was his opinion as an expression of the present tension that if some- thing did happen and a conflict resulted whereby a nezro was killed that nothing serious would result, but if the white man was killed he would hate to have tc express an opinion as te what might be the conse-. quence. Rumors have arisen concerning the development offleanor Clubs, and I am instructing each Agent as to the seriousness of these runors, and that it will be absolutely essential that they obtain full and complete information from any individuals reporting such instances, although I do not believe any active investigation should be conducted just for the purpose of establishing the existence, or non-existence of such an organization at this time. The sugpestion of the Bureau that in reporting the investigation in this case that the report be divided into separate catagories such as social, economic and political situation, as well as orranizations and individuals makes it extremely difficult to report this case inasmuch as the information obtained from several individuals has to be divided into separate headings. This proves difficult in that this office has reports covering every section of the State. The line of demarcation in some instances is also difficult to determine. The Bureau letter of August 27, 1942, also stated that these reports are to be used by the Bureau in connection with a stucy of the negro situation. Facts concerning negroes are obvious in some instances but this office is making an attempt to report this case following the ‘usual line of Bureau procedure, unless advised to the contrary. An example of what is meant is that it is obvious that rules of serrezation are strictly followed, that is, the negroes have their om movies, res- taurants, playgrounds, housing sections, etc. but such items would not be | reported from an observation standpoint, but only when disclosed during the course of an interview. If the Bureau procedure is followed the difficulty is increased inasmch as azain it will be necessary to . report the results of each interview uncer the separate headings Cesired. Tt is possible that the Bureau letter of August 27, 1942, which was the basis of this investigation, was misunderstood by this office in that it stated that an Agent entirely familiar with this situation be assizned rr ee a a . * . . =~ _ ”~ ~ ‘ . ra - . mete “_ bt et oe igs ae a a a ans eee ene Ee eee . a rs -