Office of the Historian

313. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Talbot) to Secretary of State Rusk0

Washington, June 29, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • Replies to Senatorial Letter on Arab Discrimination Against Americans of the Jewish Faith

Discussion:

Attached is a letter (Tab B) signed by ten Senators, members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, expressing their concern with regard to the discrimination practiced by certain Arab governments against Americans of the Jewish faith.1

The Senators cite the instances in which Congress, in foreign aid legislation, has recently enjoined the Executive Branch to apply in aid negotiations those national principles which are contravened by discriminatory Arab practices.2 They note that in spite of this certain Arab countries receiving US aid continue to bar Americans of the Jewish faith and urge that the Administration make every possible effort to give effect to the declarations enacted by Congress.

The “modest progress” mentioned in the letters3 refers to Jordan: (a) The Jordanian Embassy here has given up requesting baptismal certificates in connection with visa applications. However the latter still require an indication as to the applicant’s religion and we have been told by representatives of the American Jewish Congress here that the clerk at the Jordanian Embassy states that applications by Jews must be referred to Amman. (b) Following my conference at Athens with the Ambassadors [Page 762] to Near Eastern countries, Ambassador Macomber has made new and forceful approaches to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan.4 The former finally agreed the Ambassador could give you assurances that within a month he would find means of easing travel restrictions on American Jews. (c) The Jordanian Government will admit any American Jew except known Zionists whenever our Ambassador makes a personal request.

Recommendation:

That you sign the attached letters (Tab A).

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 486.1112/6–2962. Official Use Only. Drafted by Strong on June 28 and concurred in by Dutton (H). None of the tabs are attached to the source text.↩
  2. Dated June 13 and signed by Senators Hubert H. Humphrey, Alan Bible, Clifford P. Case, Dennis Chavez, Thomas J. Dodd, Thomas H. Kuchel, Warren G. Magnuson, Gale W. McGee, Leverett Saltonstall, and Margaret Chase Smith. (Ibid., 486.1112/6–1362)↩
  3. Section 106 of the Foreign Aid Appropriations Act, 1963, approved October 23, 1962, reads as follows: “It is the sense of Congress that any attempt by foreign nations to create distinctions because of their race or religion among American citizens in the granting of personal or commercial access or any other rights otherwise available to United States citizens generally is repugnant to our principles; and in all negotiations between the United States and any foreign state arising as a result of funds appropriated under this title these principles shall be applied as the President may determine.” (P.L. 87–872; 76 Stat. 1163)↩
  4. Letters to each of Senators, signed by Rusk, were sent on July 5. (Department of State, Central Files, 486.1112/6–1362)↩
  5. Tab C is telegram 588 from Amman, June 26, reporting recent approaches to the Jordanian Government regarding Jordan’s visa practices. (Ibid., 885.181/6–2662)↩