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Regi Department of Justice — “ fice of the Beputy Aftorney General Washington February 19, 1951 . Mr. Myles Horton “Fe Director, Highlander Folk School Nonteagle, Tennessee "AG = ros Dy hee My dear Mr. Horton: This will acknowledge your letter of Jamuary 51, 1951, ad- dressed to the Attorney General, requesting advice about a prob- lem growing out of the attendance of negroes at the Highlander Folk School. You advise that the Highlander Executive Council members are disturbed by the exchange of correspondence with Mr. Hugh H. Clegg, Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of In- ~ vestigation, and comment that if agents can deny what they have said, they can likewise report things they have not been told. You qvote a motion which was made by Miss Lucy Randolph Mason, which provides that the Highlander Director shall speak for | staff and shall ask that all questions posed by any FSI agents be put in writing and shall make his replies in writing pro- vided legal counsel advises this action. You then request the || Attorney General's advice as to the legality of the council's | proposal that interviews be carried on in writing. I should first point, out to you that the Attorney General is authorized by law to giveseavice only to the President of the United States and to the various Department heads, in view of which I regret that the Department cannot advise you rezarding the legal situation involved. It occurs to me, however, that there should normally be no serious objection to having Special Agents contact the Highlander Director when desiring information from the staff of the school as contemplated by the motion quoted in your letter. Furthermore, I would suppose that written re- plies to questions, either in the form of stenographic recording of the questions and answers, or in the form of affidavits, would be quite satisfactory. I believe that you will find the agents quite willing to accede to your desires in this respect. Yours sincerely, ALL IMFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN 1S UNCLASSIFIED. Peyton Ford Deputy Attorney General } 44 yi WStl- fod . cal