Aramco Bias Against Jews to Be Discussed with State Department Today

Officials of the New York State Commission Against Discrimination were scheduled to meet tomorrow with officials of the U.S. State Department for discussion on a disputed SCAD ruling exempting the Arabian American Oil Company from some provisions of the State Fair Employment Practices law, which enables ARAMCO to discriminate against American Jews.

At issue was a complaint of the American Jewish Congress charging that ARAMCO, at the behest of Saudi Arabia, bars Jews from employment. At a hearing Monday, New York Supreme Court Justice Henry Epstein gave SCAD 48 hours to decide whether it wanted to withdraw a ruling dismissing the AJC complaint. The hearing was on appeal by the AJC from the SCAD ruling.

Justice Epstein yesterday extended the deadline until Tuesday at the request of Elmer A Carter, chairman of SCAD, who wrote to the judge that he needed time to discuss with State Department officials the U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia before he decided what to do about Justice Epstein’s order. As matters stand presently, Justice Epstein will rule Tuesday on the AJC motion accusing ARAMCO of discriminatory hiring policies unless SCAD withdraws its ruling before that day.

Henry Spitz, SCAD counsel, had argued for an extension until September 22, telling the court that new evidence, which he did not specify, had come to light which could be confirmed only through conversations in Washington. Judge Epstein rejected the appeal for a suspension but he acceded to the request by Mr. Carter for a shorter delay. Mr. Spitz said he and Mr. Carter would meet with Parker T. Hart, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and representatives of the State Department’s legal adviser’s office tomorrow afternoon.