The Humil Sign Memo

Until very recent years, the Department of State tolerated homosexuals in its employment solely because not much was known about them or who they were. Occasionally, when one was found, he was dismissed or reassigned depending upon the circumstances surrounding the individual case. It was not until January 47 when Mr. Purafoy became assistant secretary for administration that the problem of homosexuality in the Department of state was dealt with in a direct and forthright manner. With this knowledge, it was determined that there were probably were a number of such people on the rules.