A Senate resolution authorizing a study of laws designed to protect American business from the Arab boycott was introduced today by Sen. Jacob K. Javits, New York Republican, and Sen. Harrison Williams, Jr., New Jersey Democrat. The resolution would authorize a study by the Senate Banking and Currency Committee of the effectiveness of the anti-boycott amendment incorporated into the Export Control Act in 1965.
Sen. Javits said that, since Congress moved against the Arab boycott in 1965, “there has been increasing evidence that large as well as small American businesses are still being adversely affected by these restrictive trade practices.”
Secretary of Commerce John Connor has informed Sen. Javits that the aim of the anti-boycott measure “has not been achieved to any appreciable degree.” Mr. Connor stated the Arab boycott had “a long history and deep roots in protracted political problems and deeply-held national sentiments, neither of which can be expected to yield easily.” “Our best hope,” Secretary Connor said, “is that the boycotting countries will ultimately recognize that restrictive trade practices and boycotts are in conflict with their own economic self-interest. Although I believe it would be premature at this point to draw any final conclusions about the effectiveness of this aspect of the present amendment, it remains my conviction that amending the regulation to impose a prohibition on American businessmen would not work toward this end but, on the contrary, would be highly detrimental to our overall national and commercial interests.”
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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.
