◆ SpookStack

ne” rt md NO nn fa C4 ™ eee bali. The Cuamman. Why did the FBI dor? Mr. Apams. Well, we have to approach two parts, in my estimation, Senator Church. One, the basis for our investigation of Martin Luther King, which was to determine Communist influence on him, my hands are tied in discussing that, somewhat on the basis that there is certain information which today, from an ongoing operation is sensitive and which, of course, we have made known to you and certain staff mem- bers. I would like to say on the basis that from our review we feel that we initially had a basis for investigating Martin Luther King. Now as far as the activities which you are asking about. the discredit- ing. I know of no basis for that and I will not attempt to justify it. The Cnarmman. You never made a finding, did you, that Martin Lather King was a Communist! Mr. Apams. No, sir, we did not. We were investigating Communist influence and the possible effect on him We never made such a deter- mination. ‘ The Cuamwan. Very well. Then there was no justification for the FBI to interfere? ; Mr. Avama. To discredit him. Cuarmsrayn. In conferring an honorary degree upon him? Mr. Avams. I cannot find any justification for,that. The Cuamman. Is it true that the FBI on another occasion inter- predin an attempt to prevent Dr. Martin Luther King from seeing the ope Mr. Apaus. I believe that is correet, sir. There were approximately 95 incidents, I believe. of actions taken in this regard. J think Mr. Schwarz has those available, that I would lump basically all of them into the same situation of I see no statutory basis or no basis of justifi- cation for the activity. : The Cuamman. But what was the motive. there being no statutory or other valid basis? What was the motive for attempting to prevent Dr. Martin Luther King from visiting with the Pope? Mr. Apaus. In looking at absolute motive, I don’t think the files which we have reviewed and made available to the committee, give me a clear picture of what the motive was. I think that there were. the motive was certainly known to Mr. Hoover. It was known to one top official who is no longer with the Burean and maybe known to others, all of whom have been interviewed by the committee. Matters bearing on what might have been the real motrre or the possible motive, I again feel, because of reasons of privacy and delicacy, are not _a proper sub- ject of discussion at a public hearing. I think we know what could have influenced this, but one, the primary individual. Mr. Hoover, is not with us. Individuals who were closest to him in this effort are not with us, And the committee itself has interviewed them. So I really am not in a position to discuss this motive issue. The Cuararan. Nevertheless. you would agree that whatever the motive. it was a very improper thingtedo. Mr. Anaws. I cannot find any justification. no, sir. The Cirarrway. Is it true that after Dr. Martin Luther King had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, that an anonymous letter was sent to him and to Coretta King, his wife, 34 days before he was to receive the Nobel Peace Prize? [See footnote p. 21.)