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
Whatever else you may hear or read about the reason
why Senatorial investigation may be held you can wager
your bottom dollar that the motvating force behind
mand for any inquiry win be the determination between
German frauleins and American Negro soldiers. The
pattern is very familiar 1t used to embarrass rea-
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 frauleins in the Rhineland, German
politicians, who Hters forerunners, used the pres
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 it win be in this 1916 situation is the
well known color prejudice and anti-Negro attitude Of
some American whites.
There is no doubt that some Negro troops have mis-
conducted themselves in Germany, just there is
doubt that American white troops have done the same
thing We won't argue the point that the percentage
of crimes among Negro troops higher than among
white troops but will also point out that the percent
age of lteracy 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 some German women 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 considerable
tent" What that has to do with the charges crime
not explained but since il included the conclusion must
be made that Mr. Meader considered the association of
German women and American Negro troops was a crime
Overlooked in the report 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 (white) about onetenth not
high grade morons This perhaps is offered in the
way of for the criminaity among white per-
sonnet. Nothing in the reports have read to
date nferentay hints that the Negro troops
of the grade That conclusion is deliberately avoided
think because it might explain the high crime ratio
among Negro troops and therefore call attention to Amer
10 odu
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
Germany they have status and members of conquer
ing force and they also find that whites seek rather than
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 fraer
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 crime
among American troops and its causes and not on the
legitimate relations between Negro troops and German
unless also investigate similar relations be-
tween white troops and Japanese women.
Negro troops who commit crimes and found
guilty should be punished but not because they Ne
groes because they the recipients of friendship from
German men women.