The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-11-28
Claim Army Heads
Wagiine Jim-Crow
Drive In Country
Say Their Blacks
Only Problem Of
Economics. Labor

san FRANCISCO-tANP)-Aus-
tralians want to accept and treat
Negroes as their own EQUALS but
are prevented from doing 60 by
white army officers who have taken
the customs and attitudes OF the
Jim crow south TO The "land down
under, according 10 letter from
trade union sources in Sydney.
Australia. sent TO the local Daily
Peoples World, union newspaper.
and the Negro press.
The letter makes these specific
charges:
/. Dixie white soldiers have
started fights in Australian cities
TO drive Negro troops off the streets
and ont OF public places:
?. American army officers have
visited schools and lectured 10
children not to associate with Ne
gro troops:
3. American army officials have
conducted deliberate campaign 10
prevent Australian soldiers and or
CARNATIONS from associating with
or welcoming Negro troops.
4. Negro soldiers are barred from
attending the troops center in sgd
ney established by the American
community for American troops.
These charges are in line with
others previously emanating from
Australia which included the I'M
denied statement tint colored SOL
diers have been removed from the
populated centers 10 the barren in
terror. as we'll as reports OF fric-
ton between Negro and white SOL
diers in England which led To a
personal investigation bv Brig
Gen. Davis.
The letter, In part. follows:
with the developments which
have brought World War III close
TO these shores, and with the pres
ence Of allied forces on this soil
the people Of Australia have be-
come aware OF a situation which
never before has been brought home
10 them with so much force.
I'VE here in Australia knew OF
the existence of the American Ne
gro. We were taught about the
Civil war in our history classes
We knew in vague sort OF way
that America had her racial prob.
lens.
Americas Concept
I'VE went to the movies and
watched somnambulistic character
whose main JOY in life appeared 10
be 'pickin cotton. singing massas :
in do cold. cold groun'". do his
bit to help along the impression
that Negroes are simple. pleasure
loving folk. but specimens Of a
kind OF mental deficiency. We o.
casionally read about maddened
southern mob lynchinE Negro we
read Richard Wright's Native Son
and were shocked and sickened.
Then we met the American Negro
soldier. a defender OF democracy
and were astounded!
THE Australian people are COM
paratively free from racial preju-
dices and problems. We have our
own colored people-tno Australian
aboriginal-who in the majority OF
cases. still lives in his original
state out in the bush. and who very
rarely appears in the cities and
towns.
Economic Problem
Certainly. IL cannot be denied
that we have white .Aurtra ia
policy. but that policy does not
exist because the Australian peo-
pie realize that they are white. and
Therefore better than anyone else
II exists because OF political rea-
sons, because at the beginning OF
this century there arose a condl-
tion which was proving TO be q SER
ious threat To country already
great in traditions OF labor and
trade unionisms. namely. the influx
Of Asiatics and Orientals who were
being brought TO Australia. and
used as victims OF cheap labor.
breaking down the relatively high
standard of living which labor
stalwarts for years had strived to