Democratic Convention Asked to Act on Arab Boycott of U.S. Jews

Ten major national Jewish organizations today urged the Platform Committee of the Democratic National Convention to adopt a plank pledging action “to counter current discrimination against U.S. citizens on the basis of their religion and to preserve the integrity of United States citizenship.”

In a supporting statement, the ten organizations explained their proposed plank deals with “the widespread campaign by Arab League countries against Jews in the United States a campaign that is being acquiesced in and endorsed by our own government.”

They called for “an immediate end to the practice of screening United States troops and personnel that are to be sent to foreign lands” on the basis of religion; “a firm statement of government policy that violations of anti-discrimination laws are not justified by a desire to yield to the prejudices of foreign nations;” and “an express anti-bias clause in all treaties and executive agreements.”

The ten organizations that joined in submitting the plank are: American Jewish Congress, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Jewish Labor Committee. Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbinical Assembly of America, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, United Synagogue of America and National Community Relations Advisory Council.

Appearing as their representatives before the Platform Committee of the Convention were Julian Freeman, of Indianapolis; Rabbi Israel Goldstein, of New York; and Rabbi Jacob J. Weinstein, of Chicago. In a prepared statement, they enumerated the following forms of discrimination: 1, Arab denial of entry or transit visas to American Jews; 2. Arab boycott of American Jewish businesses; 3. The exclusion of American Jewish citizens from United States Government civilian and military posts and from employment on U.S. defense contracts in Arab countries.

U.S. GOVERNMENT CRITICIZED FOR INDIFFERENCE TO DISCRIMINATION

“Not once in recent years has our government offered any public protest,” the statement declared. “Encouraged by this seeming official casualness, if not indifference, the Arab states continue to act virtually as they please in the mistreatment of American citizens who are Jews. The apathy of our government has served to increase and introduce anti-Semitism in new and unexpected quarters here and to down-grade the status of American citizenship.”

The Jewish organizations said they are concerned about the discriminatory practices of the Arab countries not only because of their direct effects on American citizens but also because of the activities of the U.S. Government in response thereto. “It is our government that has been screening United States troops so as to exclude Jews from assignment to our base in Saudi Arabia,” their statement pointed out. “It is our government that has pleaded for special exceptions in state FEPC laws to allow American concerns to engage in otherwise illegal employment discrimination against Jews.”

The statement castigated as “a perversion of traditional and basic American doctrine.” any concessions at the expense of the integrity of U.S. citizenship, and as “a way of thinking that accepts subordination of the rights of citizenship to the expediency of international bargaining and that regards the legal incidents of citizenship as expendable items to be traded away.” Citing the action of President William H. Taft in 1911 in abrogating a treaty with Russia because of Russian anti-Semitism, the statement said.

“When confronted with a threat to the liberties of its citizens–indeed, when forced to choose between continuing exactly the kind of anti-Semitism now practiced by the Arab states and risking the possibility of economic loss–this country has not wavered or equivocated in the past. The claim of freedom has always been of greater force and dignity than the claim of profit.”

It noted also that in 1912, the Republican, Democratic and Bull Moose National Conventions all adopted planks to safeguard the rights of American citizens against encroachment and discrimination by any foreign government on the ground of religion.

JEWISH GROUPS CITE SENATE RESOLUTION OPPOSING DISCRIMINATION

The Jewish groups quoted with approval the unanimous resolution of the Senate on July 26 that distinctions among U.S. citizens based on their religious affiliation are “incompatible with the relations that should exist among friendly nations” and that “in all negotiations between the United States and any foreign state every reasonable effort should be made to maintain this principle.”

They also noted with commendation that two Presidential committees have undertaken vigorous action on this problem-the President’s Committee on Government Contracts, which has announced that it is taking action on the complaint that Jews are discriminated against in employment on government contracts for work to be done outside of our country and the President’s Committee on Government Employment Policy which has taken similar. Action with respect to a complaint that Jews are discriminated against with respect to assignment to Federal Government positions in Arab countries.

“Despite these indications of awakened concern by some agencies of our government,” the statement concluded, “much remains to be done. A forthright statement in the platform of your party will bring us closes to action that will put an end to the present disgraceful situation.”

FULL TEXT OF THE PLANK PROPOSED BY JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS

The text of the proposed plank reads as follows: “The protection of the rights of United States citizens to travel, to pursue lawful trade, and to engage in other activities abroad without distinction as to race or religion is a cardinal function of United States sovereignty. American citizens are being excluded from service in military, diplomatic and civilian capacities abroad because of their religion.

“Certain foreign governments, which receive United States economic aid, are maintaining a boycott against Americans and refuse to honor United States passports carried by United States citizens solely because of the religious faith of such citizens. These practices are incompatible with the constitutional principle of equality of citizenship.

“We pledge appropriate action by the Executive and Legislative branches of the government to assure that the imposition by foreign governments of discriminations against U.S. citizens, based on their religion or race, will not be tolerated. We pledge further that treaties, conventions and executive agreements between the United States and foreign governments will expressly provide that the privileges, benefits, or opportunities afforded there under will not be denied to any United States citizen solely because of his race or religion.”