FRANKFURT (S&S) — Allen Dulles went to Mississippi on a broader mission than an investigation into the disappearance of three civil rights workers in Philadelphia , Miss., Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy said here Thursday.
Kennedy, who held a press conference after his arrival at 8:15 a.m., said Dulles went to Mississippi to discuss matters of law observance with private agencies, the governor and other state officials. He did not go there, Kennedy said, solely to investigate the case of the missing men.
Kennedy told German and American newsmen that one could expect race problems to continue in some states, but said that great progress is being made.
"These incidents indicate the transition the United States is going through," the attorney general said.
Civil rights are not an issue with the American forces in Europe just as they create no problems in many U.S. areas, he asserted in response to a German newsman's question regarding the race situation between servicemen overseas.
Asked to comment an the nomination of Lt Gen Creighton W. Abrams Jr., V Corps CG, to be vice chief of staff of the Army, Kennedy said that he has had numerous dealings with the general and holds him in the highest regard, as did his brother, the late President Kennedy.
"I congratulate General Abrams and I congratulate the Army on his appointment," Kennedy said.
The attorney general said he had no specific purpose in visiting German officials in Bonn, but did have a personal message for Chancellor Ludwig Erhard from President Johnson.
Kennedy flew with Abrams by Army helicopter to the Friedberg training area for tactical demonstrations by V Corps and 3rd Armd Div troops.
The same V Corps units and the 3rd Armd also put on the big show at Hanau's Fliegerhorst Casern for the late President Kennedy just a year ago on June 2.
Fitted out with coveralls and a tanker's helmet, Kennedy went through the tank gunnery qualifying course with the crew of an M60.
As the M60 rumbled along firing at the required targets, S Sgt James C. Davis of Waynesboro, Ga., the tank commander, explained the mission to the U.S. Cabinet member.
Other tank crewmen were Sp4 William C. McKenzie of Cincinnati, driver, gunner Sp5 Francis E. Halbach from Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Pfc Stanley J. Jacques, loader, from Minneapolis.
The tank demonstration was put on by the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Col James Pershall.
Climbing into an M113 assault personnel carrier the attorney general raced off across the dust training area for the final tactical show by V Corps' Long Range Recon Patrol Co, commanded by Capt Norman L. Carlton.
As a four-man patrol parachuted from a helicopter, Carlton and Abrams explained the equipment carried by the scout troopers.
Kennedy, who goes to Berlin Friday, will speak at Heidelberg University's auditorium at 11:45 a.m. Saturday. He will leave there at 12:30 p.m. and drive to USAREUR's Patrick Henry Village where he will tour the south section of the housing area via S. Lexington and S. Gettysburg Aves. Kennedy said he was going to Warsaw Saturday, then on to Krakow, Poland, for the 600th anniversary of the university there.
"There have always been strong ties between the United States and Poland," he said. The attorney general is going to Poland for the second time, having been there in 1955 after a visit to the Soviet Union. His late brother was a visitor to Poland in 1939 and in 1958. He will stay In Poland until Tuesday, when he will leave for London.
