Mr. Belmont. Mr. Chairman, I must plead ignorance. I haven't done research on it, and I just don't know.
The Chairman. Yes. Well, we can find that out very easily.
Representative Ford. Mr. Chairman, just the other day in the House of Representatives a bill was approved giving Federal officials the right to take certain action when a chief of state from a foreign country was within the United States; a broadening of their authority when they had a suspicion or they had some reason to believe that an attack was being made on a foreign dignitary.
At the time it went through the House I thought of the same question you just raised, and I wondered whether there were any specific legislative matters pending before any committee on this particular point.
Mr. Belmont. I am sure there is a pending bill because my recollection is that it was called to our attention—I cannot pinpoint it for you—but I think there is pending legislation now in this matter.
Mr. McCloy. I noticed in some Law Review article recently reference to the fact that previous bills had been introduced but had gone into the wastebasket.
The Chairman. That is true.
Mr. McCloy. In respect of other incidents.
The Chairman. When the emotion died down.
Mr. McCloy. When the emotion died down, that is true.