Bare-Faced Messiah, FBI Archives Hubbard Letter: Walter Fast

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 -

************


Subject: From the files of the FBI #2

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

************

[undated; cir Oct 1956]

The Congress of Scientologists
INVITES YOU TO
The Clearing Congress

WE WILL PRESENT, HERE IN LOS ANGELES, DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, THE
FILMS IN COLOR AND WITH SOUND, OF THE ORIGINAL CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.

THE EXACT DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, IN FACT AS
SOON AS THE PROCESSING OF THE FILMS IS COMPLETE.

THERE WILL BE SEMINARS AND ALL OTHER REGULAR FEATURES OF THE CONGRESSES,
FOR YOUR BENEFIT IF YOU COULD NOT ATTEND THE ORIGINAL.

DO PLAN TO ATTEND.

Hasi
547 S. HARVARD, L.A. 5
DUNKIRK 3-6604


Subject: From the files of the FBI #3

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

************

STANDARD FORM NO. 54
Office Me____dum - UNITED _______ OVERNMENT
TO : DIRECTOR, FBI (62-94080)
DATE: 10/8/56
FROM : SAC, SAN FRANCISCO (105-4760)
SUBJECT : THE HUBBARD DIANETIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION INTERNAL SECURITY - X

Re Bulet dated 9/4/56

Inasmuch as the Bureau, Baltimore, Denver, and Kansas City advised that
they had no subversive information regarding "The Hubbard Dianetic
Research Foundation" or LAFAYETTE RON HUBBARD, the pamphlet entitled
"Brainwashing" "A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics"
is being returned to [BLACKED OUT] and no further investigation is being
conducted by this Office.

2 - Bureau (62-94080)(Reg.)
2 - San Francisco (1 - 105-4760)

PWM/jr
(4)

Subject: From the files of the FBI #4

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

************

[BLACKED OUT]
Oct. 27, 1956

Dear sirs.

Will you please send me any information you have about the _Academy of
Religious Arts and Sciences_ and the _Hubbard Guidance Center_ in
Washington, D.C.

I am interested in attending the school but must know that it is cleared
through you before I do.

Thank you

Sincerely

[BLACKED OUT]

*********

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

MEMORANDUM FOR: The Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
10th & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington 25, D.C.

SUBJECT: [BLACKED OUT]

The enclosed correspondence from [BLACKED OUT] is being forwarded as a
matter of possible interest to your Bureau.

A copy of our letter to [BLACKED OUT] advising of this referral is
attached for your information.

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE:

[BLACKED OUT]

*********

[BLACKED OUT]

Dear [BLACKED OUT]

This is to acknowledge your letter of 27 October 1956, inquiring whether
or not the Academy of Religious Arts and Sciences, and the Hubbard
Guidance Center in Washington, D.C. are cleared by this Agency.

By specific statute this Agency has no internal security functions.  As
your question involves such considerations, your letter has been
forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation which has cognizance
over such matters.

If we can be of service in the future, please advise.

FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE:

[BLACKED OUT]

ENCLOSURE