to CSA, 6 Apr 51,
sub: Summary of Advances in Utilization of Negro
Manpower, CS 291.2 Negroes.]

Rosenberg and her departmental colleagues were less forthcoming in
some other areas of civil rights. Reflecting a desire to placate
segregationist forces in Congress, they did little, for example, to
promote federal protection of servicemen in cases of racial violence
outside the military reservation. The NAACP had been urging the
passage of such legislation for many years, and in March 1951 Clarence
Mitchell called Rosenberg's attention to the mistreatment of black
servicemen and their families suffered at the hands of policemen and
civilians in communities surrounding some military bases.[15-56] At
times, Walter White charged, these humiliations and abuses by
civilians were condoned by military police. He warned that such
treatment "can only succeed in adversely affecting the morale of Negro
troops ... and hamper efforts to secure fullhearted support of the
American Negro for the Government's military and foreign policy
program."[15-57]

[Footnote 15-56: Ltr, Mitchell to Rosenberg, 26 Mar
51, SD 291.2.]

[Footnote 15-57: Telgs, White to Marshall and SA, 9
Jan 51, copy in SD 291.2.]

The civil rights leaders had at least some congressional support for
their demand. Congressman Abraham J. Multer of New York called on the
Armed Services Committee to include in the 1950 extension of the
Selective Service Act an amendment making attacks on uniformed men and
women and discrimination against them by public officials and in
public places of recreation and interstate travel federal
offenses.[15-58] Focusing on a different aspect of the problem,
Senator Humphrey introduced an amendment to the Senate version of the
bill to protect servicemen detained by public authority against civil
violence or punishment by extra legal forces. Both amendments were
tabled before final vote on the bill.[15-59]

[Footnote 15-58: _Congressional Record_, 81st Cong.,
2d sess., vol. 96, p. A888.]

[Footnote 15-59: Ibid., p. 904. For the Army's
opposition to these proposals, see Memo ACofS, G-1,
for CofS, 12 Apr 50, sub: Department of the Army
Policies re Segregation and Utilization of Negro
Manpower, G-1