ADL Requests Rusk Act to End Arab Boycott of American Firms NEW YORK — The Anti-Defama- sponsibility" of the U. S. govern- tion League of Bnai Brith on Thurs- ment to defend the economic sys- day revealed that it has asked the tem under which we operate and United States government to take to protect the right of American "prompt and forceful action" in businessmen to engage in free support of American firms "faced trade within the limits of estab- with blacklisting because they lished policy." In asking these busi- have complied strictly with our nessmen to ignore demands or re- country's established foreign trade i strict•ons imposed by such groups policy." as the Arab League Boycott Com- An "urgent request" for govern- mittee, he continued, "our govern- ment intervention in the bans ment implicitly commits itself to against the Ford Motor and Coca- support those companies which Cola Companies and Radio Cor- agree to the request." Naming Ford, RCA and Coca- poration of America imposed by the Arab League Boycott Confer- Cola as companies being "penal- ence was sent Monday to Secretary ized" for doing so, Schary said of State Dean Rusk by Dore that "American businesses which Schary, ADL's national chairman. are willing to adhere openly to The bans, announced Nov. 20 U. S. trade policies should not be and 26 in Kuwait, were unani• forced to do battle alone when mously adopted by the confer- those policies are challenged by ence because Ford and Coca- outsiders." He concluded the letter by urg- Cola had expressed intentions of entering business relation- ing Rusk to "take immediate steps ships with Israel and because I to insure that they have the full and enthusiastic support of your RCA is there already. S c h a r y noted that the 1965 department and the other govern- Amendment to the Export Control mental agencies involved." In making the letter public, Act (the Williams - Javits Act) makes it U. S. policy to oppose in- ScharY said that Arab nations are equitable trade restrictions: in- the recipients of billions of dollars eluding boycotts, fostered or im- in American aid. He pointed out posed by foreign countries against that this aid comes from industry other countries friendly to the which pays billions of dollars in United States. Accordingly, the federal taxes out of earnings de- U. S Department of Commerce rived from domestic and interna- specifically asks all American ex- tonal trade. "To continue U. S. aid to Arab porters to refuse to comply with restrictive trade practices and boy- states while American industry, because of its obedience to cotts. Schary said. American law, is suffering their The ADL chairman pointed out that there is "constant harass- : boycott punishment, appears to ment" by the Arab League of be self defeating, Schary de- American American companies. "The trag- He said the United States should edy." he told Rusk. "is that the immediate mmediate representation to harassment is greatest against Arab League countries that "this those companies which have evi- nation, upon which they call for denced a willingness to stand up financial aid, will not stand for and be counted in support of U. S. vindictive badgering or punitive policy." boycotting of its industrial repre- Schary said that Ford, RCA sentatives, large or small." and Co c a-Cola "have been Commenting on the Anti-Defama- singled out for Arab punishment } tion League's request to the Secre- as a warning to others who may tary of State, Arnold Forster, the also be ready to defy boycott de- agency's general counsel, said he mands." Chrysler and General b e l i e v e d threatened American Motors have moved with Ford companies can be rescued through in parallel directions toward official American action since Israel, and yet have not been there have been "successful efforts similarly ordered banned by the made by some companies which Arab Boycott Committee." were in a position to help them- Schary told the Secretary of State : selves." He named the Chase Man- that Simon E. Knudsen, executive , hattan Bank, a major financial vice president of General Motors, agent for Israel bonds in this coun- in a letter to the Anti-Defamation try, as an example of an American League dated Nov. 3, had stated enterprise which had been "threat- that his company is "exploring an ened and warned, with much ac- arrangement" whereby GM would i companying publicity," and then "simply the know-how" to an Is- left alone. raeli GM distributor for the as- , "F aced with a show of sembly of its cars and trucks in ' strength," For s t e r said, "the Tel Aviv. Arab Boycott Committtee backed Declaring that the punitive Arab away without imposing boycott." Boycott Committee resolutions ; He said Chase was able to ignore against Ford. RCA and Coca-Cola ; boycott warnings successfully be- are not binding in their present j cause its services are essential to stage since the committee "is an Arab countries. Although the bank advisory rather than an official continued its Israeli operations, its government body," he asked the Arab government dealings were not State Department to "head off" im- terminated. plementation before it is too late. Forster declared, however, that The resolutions, to be mean- "despite the successful resistance ingful, he asserted, "must be of Chase and other firms — such as implemented by the committee's Westinghouse, IBM, Monsanto, In- member nations — Algeria, Iraq, ternational Paper, Republic Steel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, General Tire, National Cash Regis- Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, ter, the Hilton and Sheraton Hotel Syria, the United Arab Republic chains, TWA and other American and Yemen. Firm, official United airlines — American industry, ad- States action can still prevent hering to American policy, is often American properties from being under great disadvantage." nationalized or shut down." He called the Arab boycott "more Schary called it "a major re- of a political propaganda device" than an economic measure against THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Israel, "whose economic growth 10—Friday, December 2, 1966 has not been hindered." The boy- cott's aim. Forster said, is to build "an all-powerful image of WHEN YOU 4c COCKTAIL Arab countries which is completely out of proportion to fact." He pointed out that the Arab boy- cott, as applied to United States in- dustry, "creates an image of the submissive American businessman in the Middle and Far East mar- kets." He said such firms as Kai- ser-Frazer, Sears Roebuck, Zenith Radio, Mica Seltzer, Bulova Watch Co., Eli Lilly and Helena Ruben- stein have been listed by the Arab League as being banned by most Arab countries. This political prop- aganda game, in short, is hurtful to American business interests. Forster also pointed out, how- ever, that the boycott operation often resorts to "devious means to create the appearance of ever-in- creasing effectiveness." He said threats are often made "for the benefit of the resulting publicity and propaganda," or firms are an- nounced to have been taken off a boycott list when they had never been on it. LONDON (JTA)—An official of WASHINGTON (JTA)—The the Ford Motor Co. operations in Egyptian Embassy here denied re- Egypt said the Egyptian govern- ports that the Egyptian govern- ment agreed to end its seizure of ment had seized a Ford assembly bank accounts and property of the plant in Alexandria. State Depart- Ford subsidiary over a customs tax ment sources also said that ti dispute, it was reported here Ford plant had not been seize Wednesday from Cairo. Mohammed Habib, E m b a s Hans Stock, manager of the sub- press counselor, said his govern- sidiary, said that Egyptian officials ment did not seize the plant and promised to release the funds and that "there has not been any sei- equipment when he gave them a zure of property, private or cor- $1,000,000 letter of guarantee to pay porate in Egypt." He added that disputed custom duties. The Egypt- he thought the reports were "an ian government said the required attempt to confuse the issue and duties have accrued from opera- to cover Zionist embarrassment tions of the Ford subsidiary. Stock after the United Nations Security said he would provide the letter Council censure of Israel on Nov. immediately. 25. weerer.,,, --- • • -- ........................ • - • • --------- • • • ----- •• Now 26 of the world's famous paint- ings, superbly reproduced in full color on mounted canvas, ready for framing. 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