The police of New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City in Westchester County, nearly created an embarrassing international incident in June l950, when they accidentally arrested the wives of several of Pakistan's delegates to the United Nations. When the women, dressed in native outfits of their country, entered a Bloomingdale's department store in New Rochelle, they were mistaken by an alert patrolman for "gypsies." As one of New Rochelle's finest explained: "You know gypsies — always out to commmit some larceny by theft."

Soon two detectives were on the scene, and the women were taken into custody. At the station they were identified, and the police apologized for their error Pakistan, however, demanded an official apology for the indignity. The police of New Rochelle, however claimed that they were simply doing their job."I tried to explain," said Lt. Lawthat when gypsies turn...