Eisenhower Orders Investigation of Neo-nazi Activities in Washington

President Eisenhower today asked Attorney General Rogers to look into neo-Nazi activities in the Washington, D.C., area. The President acted as a result of a long talk with leaders of the Jewish War Veterans.

National JWV Commander Bernard Abrams, of Jersey City. N. J. , and national executive director Joseph F. Barr, of Washington, called at the White House. In their presence, Mr. Eisenhower issued instructions to an aide that the Attorney General be advised of the concern of the White House over the increasing neo-Nazi nuisance. The Justice Department is currently considering whether to place Lincoln Rockwell’s “American Nazi Party” on the Attorney General’s list of subversive organizations.

The White House asked the Justice Department to investigate the Nazi activities here with a view to determining whether a finding of subversion should be made, The JWV leaders asked Mr. Eisenhower to convene a White House conference of civic and veterans leaders to consider the neo-Nazi problem. They said that subversive neo-Nazi activities had emerged in Washington “in the very shadow of the Capitol building, They expressed dismay that a member of the Marine Corps is permitted to participate in the local Nazi group.

Rep. Seymour Halpern, a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, today expressed concern to Attorney General Rogers over members of the armed forces, veterans, and government employees in the so-called “American Nazi Party.” The New York Republican said the actions and aims of the local neo-Nazi group were not in conformity with traditions of free government. Rep. Halpern asked for a report on a current Justice Department study of possible subversion.