The State Department today denied that it had ever threatened to revoke the license of a shipping company or airline for carrying men of military age as passengers to the Middle East.
A report in the New York Star today asserted that the Department had informed shipping and airlines that the U.N. truce bans the immigration of men of military age to the Middle East and that at least one U.S. airline operating between Rome and Haifa had been “politely warned” by the Department that its permit would be lifted if it accepted as passengers U.S. citizens of military age.
State Department press officer Michael J. McDermott said today that the facts in the case were as follows: “We have not instructed shipping and airlines not to carry any men of military age to the Middle East. We have, however, suggested to them that non-American applicants for passage at stops outside the United States should be cleared with the government of the country concerned (the country which they are in when they apply for passage) and with the U.N. mediator, Count Folks Bernadotte, who is responsible under the Security Council truce resolutions.
“With respect to alleged threats by the Department to have the permit of a U.S. carrier revoked if it carried men of military age to Israel, the facts are that no U.S. carrier has been certificated by the U.S. government to fly between Rome and The T.W.A. route was between Cairo to Lydda and T.W.A. has suspended its services to Palestine.
“There are, however, certain U.S. air carriers which operate non-schedule, irregular flights between points outside the United States to or through the troubled areas such as from Rome to Haifa. Such flights are not controlled by U.S. permits. They are operated by clearance from those foreign governments whose territory is involved. The Department, on the request of such carriers, transmits their request for clearance to the foreign government concerned. Obviously, therefore, no question of revocation of a license could come up, “McDermott stated flatly.
Questioned why carriers had been requested to seek clearance only for non-American passengers, McDermott said that all Americans leaving the U.S. must state their reason for going to a certain country before their passport can be validated. If the reason given by an applicant seeking to travel to the Middle East “is contrary to the terms of the U.N. truce,” he said, “passports are not issued.”
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