DEVELOPMENT OF ASSATEAGUE ISLAND 455

Now, Congressman Long is raising again the question of my former
ownership of this property in an effort to drag a red herring across
the path of my efforts to discharge my duties to the people as Gov-
ernor of Maryland.

I ask him the still unanswered question that I posed to him last
fall: What has he done about disposing of the property he acquired
after his election and still holds near a Federal reservation in Har-
ford County, in his own congressional district? This property is only
two miles away from a large military installation. At the time Long
acquired it he was a member of the House Armed Services Committee
and had superior knowledge of the expansion of that facility because
of his position in the Armed Services Sub-Committee on Military
Construction.

LETTER SUGGESTING JOINT STATE-FEDERAL
DEVELOPMENT OF ASSATEAGUE ISLAND

October 5, 1967

Honorable Stewart L. Udall
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D. C.
Dear Secretary Udall:

Recently it has come to my attention that there are differences in
approach by the Federal and State authorities in the planning and
operation of the Assateague State Park and the Assateague National
Seashore. I am very much concerned that the objectives of the Na-
tional Park Service in the development of the Seashore may create
possible conflicts with the objectives of the State of Maryland in the
developing of Assateague State Park.

It has also come to my attention that the Department of the Interior
is contemplating purchasing the State holdings on Assateague Island.
Of course, there has been no official correspondence on this point. I
would like to request you to clarify the matter. If the Department of
the Interior is indeed interested in acquiring Maryland's holdings,
are sufficient funds immediately available for the purpose? Or, when
might the Department have sufficient acquisition funds?

As you know, Assateague State Park was authorized by the General
Assembly of Maryland in 1959, and the State has proceeded to acquire
and develop this park. More than $2, 000, 000 has been obligated to date