Memorandum on Norris Stamping and Manufacturing Company

As you have noted from my letter of March 16, 1945 to Major Richard M. Keck of the Ordnance Branch of the War Department, we asked for additional assistance in the Norris Stamping case. Major Keck was called out of town but he turned the matter over to Major Everett N. Goulard, who informed me on March 21 that the War Department will take additional action as FEPC has requested.

Major Goulard stated that the War Department is very anxious to correct this problem without the necessity of a hearing and is considering the advisability of sending a special Washington representative to the West Coast on the matter. In any event, either this special representative or Captain Doub, who is now on the West Coast, will again visit Mr. Brown of the Los Angeles office to work out a correction of this problem.

After my conversation with you concerning the Committee’s action of authorizing a hearing at its last meeting on March 17, I called Major Goulard and told him that his representative should also deal with Mr. A. Bruce Hunt of the Legal Division and I suggested that a program similar to that used in the General Cable case might be worked out between FEPC, [the] company, and the War Department’s representative on the West Coast.

I am also working with the Navy Department on this matter but it is not yet possible to say what will be done by that agency. However, Major Goulard informed me that he had discussed the case with the Navy Department and, off the record, it appears that the Navy will again ask some action from Lt. Commander S. E. Fox. I have had some off the record discussions with the Navy Department concerning this plant which make me feel that some favorable action will be taken.

Since writing this memo the Navy has sent a pledge of cooperation which is attached in letter dated March 21 from Captain G. M. Keller.