Bare-Faced Messiah, FBI Archives Hubbard's `Nazi Walter Fast' Letter

From the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

243 Riverside Drive
New York City
May 16, 1940

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen;

May I bring to your attention an individual whose Nazi activities, in
time of national emergency if not at present, might constitute him a
menace to the state?

The name is Walter Fast, a German whose sister is a member of the Gestapo
in Germany.  His anti-American discourses concern in the main what we
would do in case we went to war with Germany, and he never speaks for
publication along this line but only privately.  As steward of the
Knickerbocker Hotel he supports an almost entirely German staff,
discourgaing [sic] the employment of Americans. He entered this country
illegally, according to his private statement.  In my opinion he is
definitely "fifth column".  He can be found at the Knickerbocker Hotel,
120 W. 45th Street, NYC.

My interest in this is impersonal, though possibly shaded by the feeling
of dislike which he always inspires in me for he is the last man in the
world I would trust.  And I fear that all too soon we will have need of
every precaution to safeguard our country.

Sincerely,

[signed]
L. Ron Hubbard

**********

May 24, 1940

Mr. L. Ron Hubbard
243 Riverside Drive
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Hubbard:

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 16, 1940, for
which I am most appreciative.

I am referring this matter to Mr. P.E. Foxworth, Special Agent in Charge,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Justice, 607
U.S. Court House, Foley Square, New York,  New York, who will have an
Agent of that Office call upon you in the near future to determine
whether the information in your possession indicates the violation of a
Federal Statute coming within the investigative jurisdiction of this
Bureau

Very truly yours,


John Edgar Hoover
Director

CC - New York (with copy of incoming)

***********

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Form (?-illegible)

THIS CASE ORIGINATEDAT NEWYORK, NEW YORK NY FILE NO. 65-243 ERL
REPORT MADE AT NEW YORK CITY |  DATE WHEN MADE 8/7/40 |  PERIOD FOR WHICH
MADE 7/5, 17/40 | REPORT MADE BY [BLACKED OUT] (b)(7)(c) | 
TITLE WALTER FAST L. RON HUBBARD - INFORMANT | CHARACTER OF CASE
ESPIONAGE
|

SYNOPSIS OF FACTS:

Subject reported steward at Knickerbocker Hotel and to have sympathies
with the Nazi cause.  His sister is alleged to be a member of the Gestapo
in Germany.  Efforts to locate the informant unsuccessful. Subject has no
credit rating NYC.

DETAILS: _AT NEW YORK CITY_

This investigation is based upon a letter received at the Bureau from L.
RON HUBBARD dated May 16, 1940 which sets out that WALTER FAST is a
German whose sister is a member of the Gestapo in Germany and that in
times of national emergency he might constitute a menace to this
country.

Subject is reported to be anti-American in his discourses which are not
for publication but among friends in private.  He is a steward at the
Knickerbocker Hotel, 120 West 45th Street, New York City, and said hotel
is reported to support an almost entire German staff.  Subject was
reported to  have entered the country illegally and in the opinion of the
informant, he is definitely "fifth column."

APPROVED AND FORWARDED B.E. SACKETT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE | DO NOT WRITE
IN THESE SPACES | 
65 - 11118 | 
COPIES OF THIS REPORT 
5 - Bureau 
1 - Washington Field (Info)
2 - NewYork

[page 2]

65-2437

An effort was made to locate the informant at 243 Riverside Drive, the
address which appears at the top of the communication he forwarded to the
Bureau.  It was learned at the said address that informant moved out on
or about June 1, 1940, stating he was moving to Washington, D.C.  He
left no forwarding address and it was further learned that the mail
carrier had no forwarding address.  When inquiry was made at the
apartment house located at 243 Riverside Drive if there had been any
other address whereby informant might be reached, it was learned that
the informant was a writer, but there was no indication as to his
employer or his address.

[BLACKED OUT PARAGRAPH]

No effort was made to conduct investigation in the vicinity of the Hotel
Knickerbocker as subject would be immediately apprized of such
investigation.

In view of the indefinite nature of the complaint and the inability to
locate the informant in this case, this case is being closed.

- C L O S E D -