State Department Reiterates U.S. Opposition to Arab Boycott

The continued opposition of the United States to the boycott by Arab countries of American firms doing business with Israel was reiterated by Assistant Secretary of State Frederick G. Dutton in a letter to Congressman Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat.

Congressman Farbstein, who is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, complained to the State Department against the boycotting and blacklisting of American business organizations by Jordan and Lebanon. Having been advised that these business organizations might hesitate to request assistance from the U. S. Government, Congressman Farbstein asked for a policy statement on this matter. In answer to this request, Assistant Secretary of State Dutton wrote:

The Department is fully in accord with your view that American firms should not be penalized by the Arab governments simply because they enter into certain business relations with Israel. As you know, we have repeatedly expressed our objection to the boycott to the individual Arab governments, and they are abundantly aware of our position on this issue. Representations will continue to be made with a view to obtaining relief for American firms although necessarily we refer to specific companies only at their request or with their consent. When a company requests the Department’s assistance, we are prepared to make every effort consistent with over-all U. S. policy in the Near East to relieve the firm from the impediments to its business activities posed by the boycott.”