Senator E. L. Bartlett strongly criticized the State Department for the stand it had taken in the issue of Saudi Arabian pressure upon Aramco to discriminate against American Jews in hiring practices.
The Alaskan Democrat, read in Senate a letter sent by him to Assistant Secretary of State William Macomber, recalling that the New York State Commission Against Discrimination, which considered a complaint by the American Jewish Congress in this matter, was advised by the State Department that a finding against Aramco would prejudice the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia and probably adversely effect other U. S. interests there as well.
“This statement,” the Senator said, “is susceptible only to the reasonable interpretation that it was intended as a recommendation by the Department.” The Senator also charges that the Department’s statement misconstrued the nature of the New York proceedings and the relief sought by the AJC. The Commission was not asked that Aramco be compelled to take Jewish employees to Saudi Arabia, but to abide by the New York law against discrimination.
The Senator called upon the Department to continue efforts to end the sanctions against Americans by Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the U. S. should be scrupulous about the rights of the American people to be free in internal affairs from foreign interference and pressures.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
