MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
Your inquiry concerning incidents involving African diplomats along Route 40 in Maryland is replied to in the attached memo from Angier Duke. For specific illustrations of this problem I am also attaching reports of two specific incidents involving the wife of the Ambassador of Niger and two officials from Mali, and a copy of the telegram sent by you to a meeting asking the cooperation of Maryland citizens to end discrimination in places of public accomodation.
Federal efforts to assist African diplomats and end discrimination have been beyond the reach of our legal jurisdiction and in the nature of public education and an experiment in seeking voluntary cooperation. Sufficient progress has been made to overcome the initial reluctance of Governor Tawes and get his endorsement for state legislation prohibiting discrimination in places of public accomodation. The principal legislative leaders in Maryland endorsed the measure this week, and a private group of restaurant owners has been of modest additional help. Now, however, CORE [the Congress of Racial Equality] intends a sit-in along Route 40 on November 11 and this more blatant action will undoubtedly set back efforts at persuasion.
The effort along Route 40 is important not only as an attempt to end segregation in Maryland and tangibly show the African diplomats we are trying to be of assistance to them. It is also the first time the State Department has really recognized domestic race problems affect our relations with African diplomats. Considerable latent resistance exists within State against its Protocol Office's trying to correct the conditions which precipitate the incidents involving African officials. Your inquiry about the situation yesterday has tended to be construed as cause for slowing down the Department's efforts to end segregation along Route 40.
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This is a copy of a document on file in the Bard Library. Applied Social Sciences Computer Research Lab Comments to Joan A. Andersen, SBS Webmaster: joanaa@umd5.umd.edu Baltimore City Community College Content copyright © 1996 Joan A. Andersen; Revised: 1 August, 1996 URL: http://www.erols.com/bcccsbs