Support for the call by leaders of the AFL-CIO for a ban on oil imports from the Arab nations that took part in the 1973-1974 embargo came today from the president of the Labor Zionist Alliance, Dr, Judah J. Shapiro. In backing the general board of the AFL – CIO, Dr. Shapiro told his organization’s National Executive Committee meeting that “unless America displays its readiness to resist the pressures of the oil producers, similar pressures are bound to come on other strategic supplies.”
Continuing, Dr. Shapiro told the 100 LZA leaders from throughout the U.S. and Canada attending the NEC meeting: “In the present economic difficulties in this country. It would be well to place the highest priority on the well being of the majority of Americans, rather than to assure protection of the large companies, whether in oil or other industrial areas. We endorse the stand of George Meany, that the country should not pay “one cent for tribute and keep Arab oil out of this country.”
Commenting on the recent Soviet action of breaking the trade agreement with the U.S., Dr, Shapiro said: “An impression has been created that American-Soviet detents relates mainly to Jewish issues such as Israel and Soviet Jewry. The fact is that the disagreements between Washington and Moscow relate to issues in many parts of the world. For example, the rivalry in the Persian Gulf, in the Indian Ocean and in Europe are far more crucial to the American-Soviet relationship. It is an error of judgment to allow Jewish concerns to be placed in the forefront of the present contention between the two superpowers.”
Dr. Shapiro also pointed out that “in the new acceptance of responsibility by the Congress for a role in shaping foreign policy. It requires Jewish interpretation of major Jewish concerns to members of the Congress. Congressmen and Senators must be given information about Jewish concerns on the local level in order that they may be aware of these issues in Congressional action. This shifts a recent tendency of centralizing Jewish expression in relation to the President of the U.S. and the Secretary of State to a revitalized Congress which is claiming a greater responsibility of American foreign policy.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
