Telegram from Clark Foreman to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from David Niles

Filed. niled 93- lo kolumbia, March 29, Jean. M6-29-50. 1946. Mr. Clark H. Foreman President Southern Conference of Human Welfare 935 G Place, Northwest Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Foreman: I have your recent message, addressed to the President, in which you inquire about the civil rights aspect of the disturbance in Columbia, Tennessee. I have withheld answerpending word from the Attorney General of an investigation, which has just been com- pleted. For your information, the Attorney General directed a full investigation of this case the same day the episode was reported to him. He also asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain all possible background information, and he sent a personal represent- ative to the scene. On the basis of the information thus obtained the United States Attorney has been directed to request the court to convene a grand jury to inquire fully into the matter of possible violations of Federal statutes including civil rights statutes. I am attaching a copy of the Attorney General's instructions in this regard. I want to thank you for your interest in the very important matter of the protection of the civil rights of all our citizens; and I want to assure you of the President's continuing determination to see that they are upheld. Sincerely yours, DAVID K. NILES Administrative Assistant to the President