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FBI

The H Files

FBI files on L Ron Hubbard

FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI #1 243 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 ORIGINATED AT NEW YORK, 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 - New York

[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 -

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