Seafarers Union Considers Renewal of Action Against Egyptian Ships

The Seafarers International Union is taking preliminary steps to renew its action against Arab blacklisting of American ships for trading with Israel, it was announced by the SIU today.

Exactly one month ago, the SIU called off its 22-day boycott of the Egyptian ship Cleopatra, in New York harbor, after the State Department had promised to intensify diplomatic efforts to protect American ships and seamen against Arab discrimination.

That boycott, which cost the Egyptian owners of the Cleopatra an estimated $44, 000, may be resumed in the near future, it was indicated today. Paul Hall, president of the SIU, revealed that his office is compiling “fresh data” about continuance of the blacklisting by the Arab Boycott Office, affecting the Job opportunities and livelihood of American seamen.

Mr. Hall made his announcement following a report today from Damascus capital of the Syrian region of the United Arab Republic, that another American ship has been added to the blacklist. This ship, the Banner Lines “Atlantic,” a vessel of 14,138 tons, registered in New York, was banned from all Arab ports for “trading with Israel.”

“We have the names of other ships that have been either added to the blacklist or taken off the blacklist recently,” said Mr. Hall. “We are compiling this data very carefully. Some of the data will not be complete until the ships concerned have returned to their home ports and we can interview the crews to obtain first-hand reports about whether the crews have been molested or harassed by the Arab authorities. When the data is complete, we shall file a brief on the entire issue.”

The brief, Mr. Hall said, will be filed with George Meany. president of the AFL-CIO, since the State Department agreement leading to the withdrawal of the Cleopatra pickets by the SIU had been made with Mr. Meany.