This 1961 Baltimore Sun article summarizes incidents where Route 40 restaurats refused service to traveling African diplomats due to their race. The article notes the involvement of Governor Millard Tawes and a State Department official to negotiate with the restaurants and promote equality in travel accomodations. The incidents were causing international outrage and provoked a strong response from the Kennedy administration then moving quickly to support civil rights as well as take a Cold War issue off the table to prevent further expolitation by the U.S.S.R.