ABSTRACT
The Eisenhower administration demonstrates only lukewarm interest in the matter, despite the steady stream of criticism and suggestions from African-Americans concerning the issue of race and U.S. foreign policy. In terms of responding both to the damage done to American prestige abroad by the nation's civil rights problems and to arguments for the desirability of appointing more blacks to diplomatic positions, the new administration offered only token gestures. There was also a tie-in between America's diplomatic work with the non-white nations of the world and the higher education of American Negroes, and the ammunition that our Negro problem has furnished the Soviets. The overall theme was the U.S. progress in eliminating racial and religious discrimination, with particular reference to the American Negro. Finally, the result was the Negro leaders know the President and the Republican Party owe them nothing politically and token gestures were the preferred responses to both domestic and international critics of America's race problem.
