The U.S. Air Force has made concessions to Saudi Arabian prejudice against Christianity in addition to tolerating anti-Jewish discrimination by Saudi Arabia, it was learned today from authoritative government sources.
At the Dharan Base, U.S. chaplains do not wear the insignia crosses denoting their status as Christian chaplains. This is done to avoid fanatical Moslem wrath. According to the account given by Air Force circles here, Catholic officials–in the interest of their personal safety–were obliged to “defrock” when on a mission to the base.
Christian religious services on the base are conducted with a measure of secrecy, with precautions taken to avoid arousing Moslem ire. The base figured in the news recently when Secretary of State Dulles, in response to Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioning, said that Saudi Arabia prohibited U.S. forces from stationing American servicemen of Jewish faith there.
One report heard here today is that the U.S. flag is not flown over the base because the Saudi Arabians look upon it as an “infidel” symbol. A question has been raised by service personnel as to the extent of control the U.S. command has over the base because of the numerous reported concessions to Saudi Arabian extremism. Several weeks ago Saudi Arabia threatened to refuse renewal of the agreement under which the bases is leased, thus forcing the State Department to release 18 Army tanks held up at the port of shipment because of the tense Arab-Israel situation.
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