Hope mounted today for passage of the Morse amendment which would put the Senate and House on record in a new condemnation of Saudi Arabian discrimination against American citizens of Jewish faith.
It was learned that a number of senators have changed their minds about the amendment which was defeated by 47 to 43. The amendment was recently introduced as part of a Mutual Security Authorization Bill and will now be re-introduced in connection with a mutual security appropriation measure.
Following the unfavorable vote, Sen. Wayne Morse, the amendment’s sponsor, learned that a number of senators examined the matter more closely and will vote differently when the amendment comes up again. Also, some senators absent when the vote was taken are determined to be present to record their displeasure with Saudi Arabian bigotry when the next voting occurs.
Meanwhile, Sen. Morse, an Oregon Democrat, reported that he will strive to re-introduce his amendment although he finds himself “in some parliamentary difficulties” and is confronted with the problem of presenting the amendment “in such language that it will not be subject to a point of order in connection with an appropriation bill.”
If he fails to obtain a direct vote on the amendment in connection with the appropriation bill, Sen. Morse served notice that he would continue “to offer the amendment time and again, if necessary, to whatever bill he can with propriety attach it, until we can get a vote again on the this issue.”
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