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ste : 1 ill ici Ti i a wigs nes lle BL . SE ener erred er eo Loe Shand . te . JOHIE EDGAR HOOVER . , ro DIRECTOR ’ i po: t - . 4 United States Departiawitt of Austice 4 NEM: JCR MEMORANDUM FOR MR. NICHOLS rh O f jv poe a Ret Membership in International fy % Ue ae a 4 Crininal Police Comission Uda eee y _ . . Air Bo 4) Paerm federal Bureau of Luuestiqation |. be { , i) H ‘ i ' am) . The International Criminal Police Comission was Poe cate founded in 1923 at Vienna, Austria, for the pur:ose of in- Po. proving mutual cooveration anong police authorities in various countries. Ff As you know, Inspector Lester attended re the 13th meeting of the Commission which was held at London, Englund, in June, 1937, end upon his return recommended. by memorandum to the Director..that the United States should be permanently connected with this organization. Inspector Lester do-his memorandum points out that while we would not receive much vractical benefit from member- ship in the Commission, the contacts with outstanding law ' enforcement officiels would be helpful and delegetes attending | the annual conferences could learn of new scientific develop- ! ments which might prove interesticg and helpful_to the Bureau - | and to law enforcement in general in this country. ae a With reference to the expense of membership in the Commission, Insbector Lester was of the opinion thet any contribution suggested by the Director would be acceptable, and recent correspondence with the Secretary General, Dr. Oskar Dressler, confirms this. As you know, the Bureau's Appropriation conteins an item of §1,5C0.00 to meet the oN expenses of member n the Commission, j , dod am Xpens ship in t re) a) * compen 4 4 _ f-poepe ly AI eee In addition to Inspector Lester's reasons for joining 0) ty j.tsWat a the Commissio y there is ulso the possibility that if we ‘fail ene to jois., the Secrét Service or some otner Poderal Agency may seek to become e member, and the FBI might thereby suffer ino oy international prestige. ey .- Since Inspector Luster attended the annual conference Zone Gl 4 oa cso J of the International Criminal Police Comiission in London in 1937, a very delicate political situation has developed in Europe. Insrector Laster stated at the time thit the greetest drawb.ck to membershin in the 1.C.P.C. was the fact that the Austriens dominate the entire Commission, probably due to the —