State Dept. Denies Religion is Factor in Assigning Personnel Abroad

The State Department, in a letter to the American Jewish Congress, has corrected an “erroneous” assertion by a Department official that religion is a factor in the assignment of U.S. diplomatic personnel abroad.

William J. Crockett, Deputy Undersecretary of State for Administration, said in a letter dated May 19, and released today by Dr. Joachim Prinz, past president of the Congress, that “my purpose in writing this letter is to make clear beyond any doubt that the Department’s policy and practice with respect to the assignment of its personnel neither provides for nor tolerates assignment limitations on racial or religious grounds.”

Issuance of the letter came following a meeting of the State Department earlier this month between Mr. Crockett, Dr. Prinz and Phil Baum, of the American Jewish Congress, to discuss charges that the State Department barred Jews from service in Arab countries. Mr. Crockett referred to a communication from Assistant Secretary of State Douglas MacArthur II dated January 15, to Rep. Richard S. Schweiker, Pennsylvania Republican, in which Mr. MacArthur had said that “the religion of (State Department) employees is regrettably a factor which cannot be ignored in the case of certain countries.

Commenting on Mr. MacArthur’s statement, Mr. Crockett said: “The language implies that an employee’s religion is taken into account when assignments are made. I should explain that this letter was in error with respect to policy and practice.” Mr. Crockett summarized the State Department position as follows:

“1) Assignments are made on the basis of need and merit, without in any way taking into account race or religion.

“2) The Department maintains no personnel forms or records which indicate an employees religious affiliation. In making assignments, personnel officials do not inquire into an employee’s religious preference.

“3) Assignments are made on the basis of our estimate of how well an employee’s talents mesh with the requirements of a given position.

“4) We have made clear our opposition to any policies of foreign countries that discriminate against Americans because of their religion. This opposition has been active and our embassies have taken the matter up with other governments on a number of occasions. We believe that our efforts are contributing toward our goal of eliminating racial and religious distinctions from international relations and travel.”

Commenting on the letter received from Mr. Crockett, Dr. Prinz declared: “The new declaration of State Department policy comes as a welcome affirmation of long cherished American policy. Undersecretary Crockett has made it plain that the United States will not tolerate the attempt by any foreign government to export its local prejudices into our domestic affairs by requiring us to infringe the constitutional prohibition against religious tests for public office.”