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Memorandum for Mr. Belmont Position of NAACP Re Communism The NAACP at its Forty-first Latuonal Corventiorn held in Boston, June, 1950, went on record as opposing Jonmunism and empowered its Board of Directors to revoke the charter of any chapter found to be Communist controlled. (61-3176597) At the Forty~sixth Annual Convention o* the NAACP held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in June, 1955, the NAACP reaffirmed its rejection of Communism as an antidemocratic way of life and form of Government. (61-31761161) Communist Party Penetration Into NAACP There is listed below a number of examples of the relentlessness of the Communist Party in attempting to infiltrate and influence the NAACP as extracted from the official line of the Communist Party appearing in "Political affairs," the monthly theoretical organ of the Communist Party. On page 42 of the December, 1955, edition of "Political Affairs," an article appeared in regard to the Till case. This article referred to the arrogant attacks now being made against the NAACP throughout the South. The article stated, "Southern reaction is in deadly ernest. Therefore, nothing short of the most resolute fight to defend and safeguard the NAACP will be sufficient to stay the hand of reaction on this front.” In the same article it is stated, "The first task of Marxists in respect to the Till movement is to exert our maximum influence in furthering the fighting unity of the Negro people. But in order to play a leading role in this connection, Marxists and Left forces must be in this movement, a part of the mass organisations that are leading it and strengthen their ties with it in all possible ways.” This article was written by Edward E, Strong, a member of the Steering Committea of the National Negro Commission of the Communist Party. The January, 1956, issue of "Political Affairss on page 17, contains a statement that, "It is time, Comrades, that we ,.. salute the heroic leadership which the NAACP is giving to this far-flung struggle in the heart~land of Dixiecrat racism. The NAACP in the South is leading a struggle against an implacable and ruthless enemy which is in rebellion against the Constitution and which does not hesitate to kidnap, lynch, cripple and assassinate. We must support the NaaCP in the struggle with every ounce of energy at our disposal. * -2- itn . rT ae, wet