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Senator to Seek Action on Saudi Arabian Ban on American Jews

March 5, 1962
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An amendment to the foreign aid bill will be introduced in the Senate, making it clear that the United States opposes Saudi Arabian discrimination against any American on ethnic, religious or racial grounds. U.C. Senator Prescott Bush declared here today.

In announcing that he will sponsor such an amendment, Senator Bush told the Connecticut Jewish Ledger that America “must make it unequivocally clear” that it opposes such discriminations. “Our Government, ” he said, “must make it clear to Saudi Arabia and to the world that the ethnic, religious or racial background of an American–any American–is of no legitimate concern to any foreign government.”

Senator Bush, who is a member of the Armed Services Committee in the Upper House of Congress, recalled that he had notified the Administration a year ago that he is opposed to renewal of the United States lease on the Dharhan Airbase, in Saudi Arabia, as long as American servicemen of the Jewish faith are barred from Dharhan.

Although Saudi Arabia had notified the U.S.A. that it does not intend to renew the Dharhan Airbase lease, there are reports now, Sen. Bush said, that the Washington Administration is attempting to negotiate a new lease for the facility which the U.S.A. built in 1946.

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