Draft Remarks to the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services

DRAFT 12 O'clock Noon 12 January 1949 TO THE COMMITTEE ON EQUALITY OF TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE ARMED SERVICES: Considering it essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, I have declared it to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. In Executive Order No. 9981, dated July 26, 1948, I directed that this policy should be put into effect as rapidly as possible. By this same executive order, I created the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. I am happy to welcome you, each of you, to the tasks and opportunities which now become yours. Our total national economy demands the most effective utiliza- tion of the services of every citizen. Likewise it is the privilege and responsibility of every citizen to make the maximum possible con- tribution to our national strength. The concept of democracy that our nation represents to the peoples of the world demands that there be equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed services as well as in all other phases of our national life. It occurs to me that under the guidance of your chairman, the Committee will wish to make a comprehensive survey of the past and present status and service of the Negro citizen in the armed services. Rx A