The United States Government was urged in the House today to take “a firm and moral” stand on the Arab attempts to boycott, blockade, and discriminate against the State of Israel and Jews throughout the world. The speakers were Rep. James Roosevelt and Rep. Leonard Farbstein both Democrats.
Representatives Roosevelt and Farbstein urged the withholding of United States aid funds from nations that practice boycott and discrimination. Rep. Roosevelt attacked the Administration “appeasement” of the Moslem states and said that America cannot permit a “double standard” in foreign policy.
Rep, Farbstein, member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told the House that he has not yet received answers to questions he put to the State Department regarding discrimination by Pakistan and other Moslem states against Americans of Jewish faith. He charged the United States International Cooperation Administration with inquiring into the religion of individual employees.
Rep. Seymour Halpern, New York Republican, today announced that he is planning to request a full Congressional investigation of U.S. policy with respect to discrimination by Pakistan and other Moslem nations against U.S. Government personnel of Jewish faith.
In a telegram to James Riddleberger, director of the U.S. International Cooperation Administration, Rep, Halpern demanded “full particulars” on newly imposed Pakistani restrictions against ICA’s Jewish employees. He urged the ICA to reject any such discrimination, terming it “nothing short of outrageous” that Pakistan has received several hundred million dollars of U.S. aid and seeks to establish religious discrimination among Americans implementing the aid program. He called to the attention of Mr. Riddleberger that Pakistan is seeking a large share of assistance from American taxpayers in the coming fiscal year.
Finance Minister M, Shoaib of Pakistan today sought to deny that Pakistan recently asked the United States to cease assigning American personnel of Jewish faith to that Moslem nation.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr. Shoaib appealed for “even more generous” economic aid from the United States. Asked about Pakistan’s attempt to eliminate Jews from the U.S. aid mission in Pakistan, he denied that Pakistan discriminated in any manter.
Members of Congress meanwhile revealed they will examine the whole issue of aid to Pakistan for the new fiscal year in light of Pakistani policy toward American Government personnel of Jewish faith.
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.
