Letter from Adolf Berle, Jr. to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from Clark Clifford

78/20/48 93-B August 18, 1948 Dear Mr. Berle: Your letter of August 9 to the President asking that a statement be issued with reference to the policy of the United States Government regarding the elimination of segregation in the Armed Forces has been referred to the writer for attention. The # President appreciates your interest in this important subject. The President's position has already been made clear and it is felt that a formal statement is not needed. I should like to call your attention to paragraph 1 in the President' Executive Order of July 26, 1948, which contains the following declaration of policy by the President: "It is hereby declared 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. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale." Your attention is also directed to a public statement x36 made by the President at a weekly Press Conference on July 29, 1948. At that time, the President, in answer to a question, stated in effect that his advocacy of equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Forces envisioned eventually the end of segregation in such forces. I join with the President in expressing best personal wishes. Very sincerely yours, CLARK M. CLIFFORD Special Counsel to the President Mr. Adolf A. Berle, Jr. 606 State Chairman Liberal Party of New York State 160 West 44th Street x New York 18, N. Y. x93