St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-06
Negro Troop Behaviour in Germany
An Editorial

From wednesdays news reports from washington
Americas occupation troops in Germany, especially its
black Negro) and brown contingent, are in for good
smearing.
why Senatorial investigation may be held you wager
your bottom dollar that the motvatng force behind de-
mand for any inquiry will be the determination between
German frauleins and American Negro soldiers The
pattern very familiar 1t used to embarrass rela
tons between the United States and France years ago
when there loud camor in this country for removal
of French African troops who had become extremely
popular with the fraueins in the Rhineland German
politicians who were Hers forerunners used the pres
ence of these loyal French blacks the Rhine to gain
American sympathy for the poor Germans who several
years before had threatened the peace of the entire world
The basis then will be in this 1916 situation is the
well known color prejudice and antNegro attitude of
some American whites
There is no doubt that some Negro troops have mis-
conducted themselves in Germany just there is no
doubt that American white troops have done the
thing We won't argue the point that the percentage
white troops, but will also point that the percent
age of teracy among white troops is CORRESPONDENCE
Highland that's not the fault of Negroes at home
abroad.
If you read the news accounts of conditions in Ger
many you'll find that the real nub of the whole hue and
cry in Senatorial Investigators George Meader) report
is I'm view of food shortages German have
been unusually receptive to the generosity of the Negro
Troops In another part of the report will be found the
rather significant assertion that NEGRO soldiers and Ger
women have been consorting to a considerable
tent What that has to do with the charges crime was
not explained but since it is included the conclusion must
be made that Mr. Meader considered the association of
German women and American Negro troops a crime.
Overlooked in the report now since the Negro angle
has been fully exploited, will doubt be the pertinent
fact that "the quality of white troop requirements has
been Inferior According to the Associated Press the
committee Investigators report said that in shipment
of 236 enlisted (whte) "about onetenth are not
high grade morons" This perhaps offered in the
way of excuse for the criminality among white per-
sonnet Nothing in the news reports have read to
date nferentay hints that the Negro troops
of the grade That conclusion is deliberately avoided
we think because it might explain the high crime ratio
among Negro troops and therefore call attention to Amer
cas- dismal failure to extend proper educational facilities
to its Negroes in the south.
~ part of the condition among Negro troops in Ger
many could be explained by psychologists In America,
their home these repressed and oppressed In
ing force and they also find that whites seek rather than
repel normal friendships with them The psychologists
know what happens also when people who have been sub
merged and repressed gain partial sense of free
DOM to about free human beings assocatng with
whom they please.
Only the hypocrites among the majority group will
hold their hands in horror at the spectacle of fater
soldiers American white troops mnge freely with
of all coors and wherever they In Africa,
in India, in China and in Japan you'll find visible evil
dence of the past and present of American white
troops Nobody much about the doing of what comes
naturally" of these troops but when American Negro
troops practice the determination in Germany it
easily becomes the basis for loud angushed yeps from
some of our white brethren at home and abroad.
Let there be an investigation but let it be on crime
among American troops and its causes and not the
legitimate relations between Negro troops and German
unless also investigate similar relations be-
tween white troops and Japanese
Negro troops who commit crimes and are found
guilty should be punished but not because they Ne
groes because they the recipients of friendship from
German men women.