War Department: Military Intelligence Service. 23 August 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

CI-R1 Report, 23 August 1943
Name: MANUEL CANTOR, Pvt.

Original investigation was requested by the Director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Fourth Service Command, Atlanta, of MANUEL CANTOR, Pvt., by letter dated February 18, 1943, while subject was attached to Co. D, 11th Bn., Ft. Mclellan, Alabama, on the basis of the following information. Subject worked as a Communist organizer in Passaic, N.J. during the year 1939 and for three years was a party organizer in Mercer County, N.J. CANTOR also was the county secretary for the Communist Party and a member of the State Committee, working under (REDACTED), State Secretary of the Communist Party. In 1938, and 1942 the subject ran for Governor of the State of New Jersey, on the Communist Ticket....

Adverse Information:

1. CANTOR was organizer and secretary of the Communist Party of Trenton, N.J. (memo F).
2. CANTOR reads Communistic newspapers and Soviet literature.
3. CANTOR ran for Governor of New Jersey on the Communist ticket.
4. CANTOR was secretary of the Communist Party in Mercer County, N.J.
5. CANTOR favors Stalin over Trotskey.

Undeveloped Leads:
1. Subject's home address, 560 Perry St., Trenton, N.J. Other addresses listed as follows...
2. Subject attended grammer school, Clifton, N.J., high school, Clifton High, Clifton, N.J. (Memo F). Subject also graduated from Columbia University, New York City, N.Y. with B.A. degree. (Memo F) Subject graduated from the New Jersey Law School, Newark, N.J. in 1933 with LLB. (Memo F).
3. 1939-1943, subject employed by the Communist Party, P.O. Box, Newark, N.J. as secretary to William Norman.
1930-1938, subject employed by Montclair Plumbing Supply Co., Montclair, N.J.
1938-1939, Workers Educational Center, Passaic, N.J. as secretary. Non-renumerative.

Remarks and Conclusions:
Investigation at this station fails to reveal any evidence of subversive activity on the part of the Subject to date. He is regarded as an excellent soldier by the men of his company. However, in view of his background prior to entering the Army, and report emanating from Ft. Mclellan, Alabama, this Agent considers the Subject as potentially subversive. It may be that the Subject is concealing his Communistic ideas at the present time, with a view to later attempting to spread them when a more opportune time presents itself. It is the conclusion of this Agent that Subject is still interested in Communism, although there has been no indication to date of activities along this line at this station.

Recommendations:
By basic communication dated April 13, 1943, the Director, Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Fourth Service Command, Atlanta, Georgia, deemed the Subject as potentially subversive. It was also recommended that undeveloped leads be closed in view of the fact that information secured would in all probability be cumulative in value. This Agent concurs in the above and recommends that this case be disposed of according to present War Department policy, as expressed in WD ltr., dated 22 July, 1943. (NOTE: Two following lines blacked out.)