Malcolm X (44 page)

[BUREAU DELETION]

Clipping from the
New York Herald Tribune . . .
enclosed herewith for the Bureau.

If we receive any additional information from [BUREAU DELETION] relative to subject we will promptly furnish it to the Bureau and interested offices.

New York Herald Tribune
, European Edition

February 10, 1965, page 3

France Bars Malcolm X To Avoid “Trouble” at Meeting

By Jack Monet

Paris, Feb. 9.—French authorities today barred Malcolm X from entering the country to deliver a talk.

The American black nationalist leader arrived from London at Orly International Airport this morning, learned from French security officials that his presence was “undesirable” and was put on a flight back to London two hours later.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said it was decided that a meeting Malcolm X was to address tonight could “provoke demonstrations that would trouble public order.”

Malcolm X, the most outspoken exponent of violent activities to further Negro-as-such strength in the United States, was to speak at the Salle de la Mutualité on “The Afro-American Struggle for Freedom.”

The meeting tonight was sponsored by the Federation of African Students in France, the principal African student organization here, and the Committee of Members of the Afro-American Community in Paris.

Despite the proscription of Malcolm X, the Prefecture of Police maintained its authorization for the meeting, so the sponsors decided to go ahead later tonight with a quickly organized “protest” session.

About 300 persons, a third of them white, attended the meeting. The speakers denounced the ban on Malcolm X, white mercenary
intervention in the Congo and American raids on North Vietnam, all interpreted as attacks on non-white peoples.

In London, Malcolm X expressed shock at his treatment in France. “The authorities would not even let me contact the American embassy,” he said.”

“I thought I was in South Africa. They let (Congolese Premier) Tshombe in. He's the worst person on earth.”

New York, New York
February 16, 1965

Malcolm K. Little

Internal Security—Muslim Mosque, Incorporated

[BUREAU DELETION] New York City Police Department (NYCPD), advised the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on February 14, 1965, that early that morning Malcolm X's home was destroyed by a fire.

On February 14, 1965, a conference was held at the 114th Precinct, NYCPD, at 23-16 30th Avenue, Queens, New York, with Special Agents (SAs) of the FBI, [BUREAU DELETION] Detective District, New York City, [BUREAU DELETION] New York City, concerning the burning of the residence of Malcolm X, 23-11 97th Street, East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, leader of the MMI and the OAAU.

[BUREAU DELETION] stated that the first alarm was received by telephone at 2:46
A.M
. February 14, 1965, from [BUREAU DELETION] East Elmhurst, Queens, New York. [BUREAU DELETION] later interviewed by the fire department, stated she was awakened by the noise of glass breaking. She looked out the window and saw a round hole in Malcolm X's living room window, and the room was in flames. [BUREAU DELETION] stated she saw no one near Malcolm X's residence at that time.

[BUREAU DELETION] advised that the second alarm was sounded by [BUREAU DELETION] Queens, New York, a cab
driver who, with an unidentified passenger, noticed a bush burning in front of Malcolm X's residence. [BUREAU DELETION] said he put the bush fire out and while doing so, he heard glass breaking twice. He stated he then looked along the side of the house, and saw a fire in the rear of the home. He then stated he knocked at the front door of Malcolm X's home and at the same time, heard voices inside. He then knew that they were awake so he ran to set off the fire alarm.

[BUREAU DELETION] said that from the time he first saw the bush fire in front of the home to the time the fire department arrived, he neither saw nor heard any person or vehicle leaving the area.

[BUREAU DELETION] stated the fire engines arrived at Malcolm X's home at 2:50
A.M.
on 2/14/65. He stated the fire was confined to the living room area, with smoke and water damaging areas of the home. He stated Malcolm X, his wife and four children, ages six months to six years, escaped through the back door and were in the back yard when the fire apparatus arrived.

[BUREAU DELETION] stated that an investigation conducted by the New York City Police and Fire Departments disclosed the following:

Investigation of Fire

1. The bushes and front of the home on the right side of the front steps were scorched.

2. The fire was confined to the living room only.

3. The rear bedroom window was broken, the ground and fence in the vicinity of the broken rear window were scorched.
The Venetian blind on the broken rear window was closed and down, and was scorched at the bottom, although there was no evidence of fire in the rear bedroom.

Evidence Obtained At Scene of Fire

1. The bottom ⅛ part of a whiskey bottle containing gasoline was found in the enclosed front porch. The glass of the bottle was scorched, although there was no evidence of a fire in the front porch area.

2. A quart whiskey bottle filled with gasoline was located standing upright on the dresser in the rear bedroom where Malcolm X's other daughters slept. This bottle had a screw cap which was intact and did not have rags attached to it.

It is noted that all firemen who entered Malcolm X's home during the fire were interviewed and all stated they did not place the bottle on the dresser.

3. A broken neck of a whiskey bottle with a scorched cloth wick attached to the neck of the bottle was located in the rear of the said home at approximately 15 feet from the house and near the bedroom with the broken window and scorched ground and fence.

4. A broken neck of a whiskey bottle and shoulder of a whiskey bottle which matched the neck section was found in the center of Malcolm X's bedroom. A piece of cloth soaked with gasoline but unscorched, was on the bedroom floor a few feet from the broken whiskey bottle. No evidence of a fire could be located in this bedroom.

The youngest daughter, age six months, slept in a third bedroom opposite Malcolm X's room.

No evidence of bottles could be located in the living room where the fire was confined, but according to [BUREAU DELETION] there was evidence that gasoline was used in the living room fire.

[BUREAU DELETION]

The investigation by [BUREAU DELETION] and [BUREAU DELETION] determined that Malcolm X stated he awoke himself and discovered the fire and that his wife, Betty, stated that she awoke him and then grabbed their children and left their home through the rear door.

Malcolm X, after the fire, and during the interview, showed no emotion or anger and actually laughed when he was asked who he thought may have burned his home.

Malcolm X left his family with friends, returned to his home after the fire was put out, secured some clothing and recording tapes and left about 9:00
A.M
. for a meeting in Detroit.

[BUREAU DELETION] NYCPD, advised on February 14, 1965, that Malcolm X and his family are staying at the home of
Thomas Wallace, 34-50 110th Street, East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, who is a known member of the MMI.

[BUREAU DELETION] advised on February 14, 1965, that Malcolm X departed from New York City by plane at 9:30
A.M.
February 14, 1965, for Detroit, Michigan.

2/17/65

AIRTEL

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

FROM: SAC, DETROIT (157-838)(P)

AFRO-AMERICAN BROADCASTING

AND RECORDING COMPANY

DETROIT, MICH.

RACIAL MATTERS

[BUREAU DELETION]

On 2/14/65, at approximately 11:30
A.M
., [BUREAU DELETION] MALCOLM LITTLE from the city limits of Detroit to the Statler Hilton Hotel where he registered in room 638. [BUREAU DELETION]

Upon arriving at the Statler Hilton Hotel, [BUREAU DELETION] immediately began to question MALCOLM LITTLE regarding the bombing of his home in New York. LITTLE related that he did not see any of the perpetrators but he believed that the bombing was a result of a feud between himself and ELIJAH MOHAMMAD; however, it is the opinion of [BUREAU DELETION] that LITTLE did see at least one of the men responsible for the bombing because he later stated that he had attempted to fire a .25 caliber automatic to frighten off the men, but the gun misfired.

About this time, [BUREAU DELETION] became concerned about LITTLE's health and he called for the services of a [BUREAU DELETION] who arrived [BUREAU DELETION] and administered a sedative to MALCOLM LITTLE. After the drug was administered MALCOLM became very drowsy and incoherent for the remainder of the day.

At approximately 4:00
P.M
. on 2/14/65, MALCOLM LITTLE was awakened to be interviewed by a news crew from WXYZ-TV. During the remainder of the day and up to approximately one-half hour before his speech, he slept.

Detroit, Michigan
February 17, 1965
Re:Afro-American Broadcasting
and Recording Company
Detroit, Michigan

[BUREAU DELETION] that Malcolm Little was the featured speaker at the First Annual Dignity Projection and Scholarship Award ceremony sponsored by the Afro-American Broadcasting and Recording Company on February 14, 1965, at the Ford Auditorium, 20 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.