U.S. Bowing to Egypt on Boycott of Americans Dealing with Israel

The New York Post reported from Washington today that the United States Government had bowed to Egypt’s blacklisting of American shippers trading with Israel, when it approved a deal which provides for the sending of 55,000 tons of surplus wheat worth more than $4,000,000 to Egypt. The shipment was sanctioned by three Federal agencies–the State Department, Agriculture Department and the International Cooperation Administration–without a word of protest, the Post said.

In doing so, the Post emphasized they accepted the demand of the wheat purchase committee of the Egyptian Embassy here that grain not be shipped in any vessel blacklisted by Egypt or any ship that either passes through Israel’s territorial waters or touches its ports. Not only the cost of the wheat but the price of shipping it are borne by American taxpayers.

Except for an additional 4,000 tons bought through normal commercial channels the 55,000 ton shipment is a 4,000,000 dollars gift of the U.S. public under provisions of the Mutual Security Act, “the report pointed out. And since ships going to Egypt are not allowed to continue on to Israel shipowners have been asking–and getting $2 to $3 more per-ton for partial cargo than the going rate.”

The first wheat shipment–9,500 tons–left Norfolk on Feb. 18 aboard the S. S. Dido owned by the Firth Steamship Co. of New York, the Post stated. It said its information was confirmed by Hassan Abdul Hamid Hassan, Commercial Secretary of the Egyptian Embassy. The rest of the cargo “will be shipped from Eastern ports” by the end of the month, Mr. Hassan said.