Did you make total grants of $30,750 to the Southern Negro Youth Congress?
Mr. O’Connell. I am sure we made grants to the Southern Negro Youth Congress. Whether that total is correct, I can’t say.
Mr. Tavenner. This organization was cited on December 4, 1947, by Attorney General Tom Clark as subversive and among the affiliates and committees of the Communist Party, U. S. A., which seeks to alter the form of the Government of the United States by unconstitutional means.
You thought that was not worth looking into?
Mr. O’Connell. I knew nothing about that. I certainly knew that that was—Who said that? I don’t know who said it now.
Mr. Tavenner. Attorney General Tom Clark.
Mr. O’Connell. Do you think yourself that—well, that Tom Clark’s mere proscription of this organization is sufficient?
Mr. Tavenner. Certainly this should have been a warning to you to make some inquiry and investigation unless your view and purpose was to help the Communist Party by promoting its interests through large awards.
Mr. O’Connell. That might be your conclusion but there were certainly no awards or grants made to these organizations from the point of view of being beneficial in any respect to the Communist Party.
Mr. Tavenner. Do you recall grants having been made of $6,000 to U. S. Week?