Director James W. Riddleberger of the United States International Cooperation Administration today told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that he is examining ICA’s Pakistan operations to determine the facts of a new “gentleman’s agreement” barring American Jews from assignment to that Moslem nation.
Mr. Riddleberger told the committee he would not knowingly permit religious discrimination in the ICA but was unable to categorically deny that such a new arrangement is now in force regarding assignments to Pakistan. He indicated that he would attempt to have any discriminatory policy, formal or informal, rescinded. He added, however, that the United States could not always “force” nations like Pakistan to accept American Jews as members of U.S. economic miccions.
Rep. Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat, asked the ICA director whether aid could not be withheld from Pakistan under the Morse-Javits Anti-Discrimination. Amendment to the Mutual Security Act. Mr. Riddleberger replied that under the Act, the decision was up to President Eisenhower.
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