Commerce Department Cancels Its Participation in Trade Conference

The Department of Commerce disclosed yesterday that it has cancelled its participation in the University of Maine’s on-campus “Joint Mideast-American Business Conference” Aug. 2-6. Department officials informed the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it has withdrawn the services of field offices in Portland and Boston which were to have provided information to conference participants related to international trade.

The cancellation was prompted by the conference authorities scheduling a discussion by which Americans would be shown how to be “de-listed” from the Arab boycott blacklist of companies doing business with Israel, Department officials told JTA.

According to the Department, a major subject at the conference is “the legal framework of the Arab boycott of Israel.” In this section a panel of Arab officials and attorneys are to “candidly discuss” the Arab blacklist and “the panelists will detail the required procedures to follow for companies wishing to become de-listed.” The conference director, John Brown Jr., had said several weeks ago that no one would be excluded from the conference, Department officials said, but they became “quite alarmed” when they learned how the conference would handle the Arab boycott.

The State and Commerce Departments had assisted the conference officials in setting up the five-day meeting by aiding in travel arrangements and alerting American Embassies about it. A dozen Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and Egypt are said to have accepted invitations and about 200 representatives were to come for the sessions. “A fair number” of American companies also accepted invitations, it was said, for the conference, which was described as being “geared for opportunities spawned from oil money.”

CANCELLATION FOLLOWS COMPLAINT

The cancellation by the Commerce Department followed a protest to the State and Commerce Departments by Rep, Sidney R. Yates (D.Ill.), who said he felt it was “discriminating” against Israel and companies doing business with Israel. Responding to his letter, Charles W.

Israel expressed some concern about the appropriateness of U.S. official, participation in the conference which may recommend policy actions contrary to stated U.S. policy. Treatment of the Arab boycott was of special concern. Israel, after Iran, is America’s best trading partner in the Middle East if the sale, of American weapons is excluded from the totals.