Evening star., 1961-05-21

~NOAAO4 AASA - NNAA4OC 41SuoC OtdOSs
ment in which he characterized
the Alabama situation as "a
source Of the deepest concern
to me as it must be to the vast
majority Of the citizens of Ala
bama and all America"
Following is the text of Pres
ident Kennedy'S statement:
The situation which has de-
veloped in Alabama is o source
OF the deepest concern to me
as 1t must be to the vast ma
jority Of citizens Of Alabama
and all Americans. I have in
structed the Justice Depart
ment to take all necessary
steps based on their investiga-
ton and information.
II call upon the Governor
and other responsible State Of
ficialS in Alabama as well as
the Mayors Of Birmingham and
Montgomery to exercise their
lawful authority to prevent any
further outbreaks Of violence.
II would also hope that any
person, whether a citizen OF
Alabama or q visitor there,
would refrain from any action
which would in any way tend
to provoke further outbreaks.
II hope that State and local
officials in Alabama will meet
their responsibilities.
The United States Govern
ment intends to meet it's"
Hopes for Amity
The Montgomery Federal
Judge from whom the Govern
ment sought a temporary in
junction was located at a lake
resort and the Government
hoped to reach him before the
night was over.
The United States suit al
legged conspiracy to obstruct
safe and adequate interstate
bus transportation by violence,
threats Of violence and intimi-
dation.
Assistant Attorney General
Burke Marshall, in charge of the
civil rights division, explained
that the suit was to be filed
to protect the interests Of the
United States in maintaining
Q safe and adequate interstate
bus system.
He said the precedent for the
action was an 1895 Supreme
Court decision which upheld
the right Of the United States
to obtain injunctive relief
against stoppageS Of interstate
commerce by violent labor
union activity.
The 1895 case involved labor
leader Eugene v. Debs.
Byron White, deputy Attor-
ney General, who sat in on the
long conference with the At
torney General, left immedi-
ately afterwards to take charge
Of the Federal officers heading
for Montgomery.
Governor Answers
Gov. Patterson, responding
angrily to the Federal inter-
vention, declared, We need no
help from the Federal Govern
ment and have not requested
their help. The Federal Gov
ernment has no constitutional
right to intervene unless we ask
their assistance"
The Attorney Generals long
telegram to the Governor re-
viewed the events Of the past
week in Alabama leading up
to yesterdays riots and an at
tack on John Seigenthaler, 81
year-old administrative as
Sistant to the Attorney Gen.
eral. who was knocked uncon-
scious while trying to rescue a
young white girl fleeing from a
mob.
Mr.. Seigenthaler was in
Montgomery to see the Cover
nor as the Presidents personal
representative.
The Attorney General said
Gov. Patterson had been aware
OF the concern with which the
Justice Department regarded
this very explosive situation"
in Alabama.
Assurance Quoted
The Attorney General re-
called that the Governor re-
quested the President to send
a representative to meet with
him and that Mr.. Seigenthaler
conferred with him Friday
night.
Mr.. Seigenthaler called the
Attorney General in the Gov
ernor's presence, said the At
torney General. and quoted
Gov. Patterson as assuring
President Kennedy that he had
the will, the force, the men
and the equipment to fully
protect everyone in Alabama. u
Before the students arrived
in Montgomery yesterday and
ran into q mob attack, the FBI