M E M O R A N D U M

FROM

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS

OTTAWA, APRIL 1916

"NOTHING IS TO BE GAINED BY BLINKING FACTS, THE CIVILIZED

NEGRO IS VAIN AND IMITATIVE; IN CANADA HE IS NOT IMPELLED

TO ENLIST BY A HIGH SENSE OF DUTY; IN THE TRENCHES HE IS

NOT LIKELY TO MAKE A GOOD FIGHTER; AND THE AVERAGE

WHITE MAN WILL NOT ASSOCIATE WITH HIM ON TERMS OF

EQUALITY," FURTHER, "IN FRANCE, IN THE FIRING LINE, THERE IS

NO PLACE FOR A BLACK BATTALION, C.E.F., IT WOULD BE EYED

ASKANCE; IT WOULD CROWD OUT A WHITE BATTALION; AND IT

WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO RE-INFORCE." "NO WHITE OFFICER

WOULD ACCEPT ON ALL BLACK PLATOON."

W.G. GWATKIN, MAJOR GENERAL

CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF

OTTAWA