St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-04-19
Justice Dept. Answers
Smeor of NAAcP
BY Alleged Agent

ton Tor the Advancement OF
Colored People that recent
statements by Manning John
son, attempting to link the
NAACP with the Communist
party, do not reflect the views
nor the findings of the Justice
Department.
The governmental agency also
stated that Mr.. johnson is not one
Of its employees, as was reported
in certain newspapers.
Mr.. johnson testified before
Louisiana state legislative com
mittee early in March, and was
quoted in the press as having
said the NAACP has become
vehicle Of the Communist Party
designed TO overthrow the govern
ment Of the United States" Mr..
Johnson, an admitted former
Communist. was described in
press reports as Director of Re
search for the Department OF
Justice in Washington
Following Mr.. Johnson-s state
ment about the NAACP, Roy
Wilkins, the Associations exec
utive secretary wrote TO u. S.
Attorney General Herbert Brown
ell, Jr., for Qualification of "(a)
Manning Johnson's official posi-
ton in the Department Of Jus
tee if any and (b) the official
] or unofficial or other nature Of
Manning Johnson's testimony be-
fore the Louisiana legislative
committee"
Mr. Wilkins also inquired of the
U. s. Attorney General whether
Mr.. Johnson's testimony was re
fleeing in any manner the of
fetal views or findings of the
U. S. Justice Department.
Not Connected with Dept.
In reply to Mr.. wilkins inquiry
Warren Olney III, Assistant At
torney General Of the Criminal
Division, and Arthur b. Caldwell,
Chief of the Civil Rights Section,
gave assurance on April that
the witness was in no way con-
nected with the Department and
did not speak for it.
Rejection Of johnson Testimony
The former Communists testi-
mony concerning the alleged re
lationship between the. NAACP
and the Communist party does
not, in any manner, reflect the
views Of this Department or any
findings it has made" the Justice
Department letter asserts.
The letter further points out:
Manning Johnson is not employ
ed by the Department of Justice
as Director Of Research or in any
other capacity.
In fact there is not nor has
there ever been any such position
as Director of Research in this
Department Further with re-
spect to any testimony Manning
Johnson may. have given before
the above mentioned committee.
he had no authority to speak for
or on behalf of the Department Of
Justice"
Attempt To Fasten Connie Label
In his letter Of inquiry 10 the
Justice Department, Mr.. wilkins
referred to swift moves being
made 70 fasten a Communist label
upon this Association, and main
tanned that a grave injustice"
would be done the NAACP II the
federal agency failed TO clarity its
connection, if any, with Manning
johnson.
In early March, a Joint Legs
lative Committee on Segregation
Of the State Of Louisiana held
hearings in Baton Rouge and
and heard invited witnesses, in
GLIDING three seIf-styled former
Communists who testified on al
legged connections between the
Communists and the NAACP,"
Mr.. Wilkins told the Justice De
partment in his letter, which was
dispatched on March %
"One witness, Manning John
son, is quoted in the March IS is
sue Of the weekly newsmagazine
SOUTH, as saying that the Ma
ACP has become a vehicle Of the
Communist party designed TO
overthrow the Government OF the
United States" the NAACP Of I
fcials message continued.
- US H1NAA Al'llA BAUM AsbAENF
published in the Charleston. S. c.
NEWS and COURIER, March 9.
1857. carried the same quotation
OF Manning Johnson's testimony.
The account in South maya
zine and the one in the Charles /
ton News and Courier. described |
Manning johnson as now en-
ployed as Director Of Research for 1
the Department Of Justice in
Washington The news stories I
cited and similar ones sent out /
from Baton Rouge and widely
published throughout the South 1
give the distinct impression that /
an official Of the Department Of /
Justice has branded the NAACP I
as a vehicle Of the Communist .
party designed 10 overthrow the
Government Of the United /
States
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