Description

Herbert L. Thomas writes long letter to Mrs. L.C. (Daisy) Bates highlighting points of contention between over The Arkansas Plan Mrs. L. C. Bates -4- April 28, 1958 attorneys for the Board of Education, the NAACP, and the segre- gationists could get together and formulate principles under which we might proceed toward an agreement. This suggestion likewise failed to receive discussion. I have no reason to believe that I misinterpreted your state- ment to the effect that when I admitted a Negro student to the University School of Law 10 years ago I did so only because the Federal courts were looking over my shoulders. That accusation on your part was not true. I have no question in my mind about the accuracy of my recol- lection concerning your reference to the Unites States Government, the Army and the Federal Courts as being your friends, and that under those circumstances you need not compromise. I watched you intently as you spoke, and your sentence made an indelible impression. There is but one word in repetition of your statement that I can find any reason whatsoever to question and that is the word “only” in   reference to them as your “only friends”. After I had spoken subsequently to a group of Negro leaders – a meeting which you did not attend- the questions from the white moderates became more pressing: “What reaction have you had from the Negroes? Will they go along in a cooperative effort? Have you talked to...

From Collection

Land of (Unequal) Opportunity

Record Contributed By

University of Arkansas