Twin-City herald. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1927-1940, 1939-04-29
Senate Gets Bilbo Bill To Send
NeSros Back To Africa

Washington, April, (CNA) - The
campaign of Senator Theodore G. Bill
BIO of Mississippi for deportation of
Negro Americans to Africa reached a
climax this week with the introduction
by Bilbo in the United States Sem
ate of a so-called Repatriation Bill pro-
viding for settlement of Negroes on
territory in West Africa ito be pur-
chased" from France and Britain in
settlement of the repudiated war debts
of those countries to the United States.
Introduction of the bill was preced-
ed by the mailing by Bilbo of form
letter to Negro editors in which he
protested his friendship" for the Ne
gro people and expressed the hope
that you will catch the great vision
of what this bill means to you and all
others who are dissatisfied with their
present social and economic status of
unequal opportunities under a Govern
ment originally designed and estab-
Eshed for White Mans Civilization"
Under the provisions of the Bilbo
Bill, settlers in the proposed United
States Territory of Greater Liberia
would be placed under military rule,
with military governor appointed by
the United States. Order in the Ter
ritory would be maintained by Negro
troops and naval militia under white
officers, with the organization of the
naval militia subject ito all other con-
ditions now required for enlistment in
the United States Navy" The naval
unit, designed mainly for coast guard
service, would be under the command
of rear admiral of the United States
Navy. ts
The Bill also authorizes the Govern
ment of the United States TO organize
labor battaiions in this country to be
sent to the Territory on what would
be apparently forced labor basis.
1t would provide transportation "by
land and sea to qualifying applicants
migrating under the provisions of this
Act, and to their households, from the
initial point of departure in the United
States to the point of settlement in
the Territory of Greater Liberia"
However, it would bar the bless
ings" of the Bilbo scheme to Negro
troopers who allegedly are in debt to
their landlords unless written release
from such creditors is filed with the
Bureau of Colonization"
The Bill envisages "loans to individ-
uals, partnerships, or corporations
composed of migrants, in meritorious
| cases, nots to exceed the sum of one
j thousand dollars in any case as
initial capital for business and indus
trial enterprises in said Territory" At
the same time, the Bill would set up a
corporation under the control of the
United States Government and to have
the exclusive right to all available
lands in the Territory, except lands set
aside for governmental uses or as tri-
bal reservations for "uncivilized ma
tives."
Bilbo's drive to "repatriate" Ameri-
can citizens to Africa was initiated
| during the iilibuster of Southern Sen
ators last year against the federal anti
lynching bill At that time, Bilbo's
friendship" for the Negro people
found expression in various SANDERS,
of which the following is typical:
Il now suggest that, in peaceful
way, in humane way, in a sympathet-
ic way we provide terms upon which
and the money with which this unfor-
tunate race shall be moved or repatri-
ated to their fatherland. l repeat, and
wish every newspaper in America
would carry the statement: we can
take our choice; we must either repat-
rate the Negro to his fatherland or
this country will suffer ama1gamation
and we will have a race of mongrels
| In the years to come"