TO&E Units, CSGPA 291.2 (24 May
48).]

[Footnote 8-38: Ibid.; "Report on Negro Officer
Strength in Army," incl w/Memo, D/P&A for DCofS, 21
Jun 48, sub: Report of Negro Publishers and
Editors..., CSUSA 291.2 Negroes (14 May 48).]

General Paul did not argue the point. Admitting that the 4.1 percent
figure was "an objective to be achieved over a period of time," he
could do little but instruct the commanders concerned to indicate in
future requisitions that they wanted black officers as fillers or
replacements in black units. Clearly, as long as the number of black
officers remained so low, the provisions of Circular 124 calling for
black officers to replace whites or supplement the officer strength of
units containing men with low test scores would have to be ignored.

There were other long-range possibilities for procuring more black
officers, the most obvious the expansion of the Reserve Officers'
Training Corps. As of January 1948 the Army had ROTC units at nine
predominantly black colleges and universities with a total enrollment
of 3,035 cadets. The Organization and Training Division contemplated
adding one more unit during 1948, but after negotiations with
officials from Secretary Royall's office, themselves under
considerable congressional and public pressure, the division added
three more advanced ROTC units, one service and two combat, at
predominantly black institutions.[8-39] At the same time some hope
existed for increasing the number of black cadets at West Point. The
academy had nine black cadets in 1948, including five plebes. General
Paul hoped that the graduation of these cadets would stimulate further
interest and a corresponding increase in applications from
Negroes.[8-40]

[Footnote 8-39: Memo, Asst Secy, GS, for DCofS, 2 Jun
48, sub: Negro ROTC Units, CSUSA 291.2 Negroes (2
Jun 48); see also Department of National Defense,
"National Defense Conference on Negro Affairs," 26
Apr 48, morning session, pp. 31-34, copy in CMH.]

[Footnote 8-40: "Report on Negro Officer Strength in
Army," incl w/Memo, D/P&A for DCofS, 21 Jun 48,
sub: Report of Negro Publishers and Editors...,
CSUSA 291.2 Negroes (14 May 48).]

It was probably naive to assu