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Services. The United States Army has taken some steps to eliminate discriminatory practices in this branch of the Service. The Goast Guard and the Marine Corps have also taken steps to remove certain restrictions in the Services of Negro personeel. Unquestionably these progressive measures have contributed substantially to the improvement of the status of Negro personnel in the Armed Forces.

In spite of these actions, there remains a very definite gap between the status of Negroes and non-Negroes in the Nation's Armed Forces. It might be argued that sufficient time hasn't elapsed since the issuance of these orders and directives to accomplish the goal for which we are striving. This possibility we cannot fail to recognize. The question then, that this Committee has been asked to resolve, is whether or not the steps that have been taken are sufficient to accomplish the desired objective, and whether or not it will be necessary to take more aggressive steps to achieve them. It is to this question that I should like to address the final portion of thisstatement.

It is our impression, after studying and analyzing the directives and orders issued by the official spokesmen of Government policy, that much of what has been proposed has been attempted within the framework of racial segregation. In making this statement, we are not unmindful of the efforts