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. -* moraaodum fer Mr. Belxont Aster ws c's $ COMMUNIST CARTY, USA NEGRO QUESTION COMMUNIST INFLUENCE IN RACIAL MATTERS . vats showing communist involvement in Negro racial matters in this nation, relative to which ve can all agree. Essence of the Situation: . The essence of the situation scems to be this: We presented what facts there are in our filcs in the Brief in question and I know that the Director certainly would not want us to do other than this. «The position taken at the tine the Bric’ was written was that, while there is communist influence being exertod on Negroes land Negro leaders, it. has. ot. reached_ the nol nt cf _centrol or coe eee ge = domination. tion) This bistorically has been ‘the’ “position ‘of the kureau {In this matter in light of filo reviews going back ten to cwenty years. Cankaentiy oes Us Me Xt Tre wrt AA eth eed - For example, in a datailed docunent prepared on Communist Party and the Negro in 1953, we find the statement referring to "the failure of the Comaunist Party to attract even a significant nunber ’ of Negroes in the United States to its number.” -Auother exaunple is pb be found in an analysis in this sane field prenared by the Huresu DB 1956 to the effect that comnunist efforts have been “unsuccessful on a state or national level” in infiltrating "legitinate Negro- fraternal, protest and improvement organizations," although they made limited success in some “isolated chapters." The Director's book, Masters of Deceit, published in 1953, states: “It became obvious. that the Party, despite great efiorts, had failed to win over even a significant minority of Negroes." In 1960 the Director's statement to The Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, reads: "It is no secret that ore O41 tee bitiercst Uisappointwcnts oF communistic efforts in this Nation has been their failure to lure our Negro citizens into the Party.” In 1962 similar public statements were made. On page seven of the Sricf submitted to the Director under the date of August 23, 1963, this historical position was restated and it was said, "Cne of the bitterest disappointments of the communists has been their single failure to lure any significant number of our Negro citizens into tho Party." This statement was sot forth again in. the cover sesorandun which the Director marked. : The point I wish to cako here is this: Tho fact that this (tes been our historical Pee thee in he mureau for many years is no Feason to assume that it in the correct position at this time, as the Director has clearly explated. d.neu and conditions chango and, as the cvidence mounts, naturally we aced to change our position along With this evidence. . 2- -171- ww ° mat ; =e . o~n—- ~~. bo es _ 7