U.S. Opposes Strong Government Pressure on Nasser to Ease Boycott

The United States is against applying strong pressure by individual governments upon the United Arab Republic to ease its boycott against Israeli ships and ships trading with Israel, it was revealed by the State Department in a statement to the National Maritime Union made public here today by Joseph Curran, president of the Union.

The statement was sent by the State Department in reply to a plea made by the National Maritime Union last month to President Kennedy urging him to initiate action in the United Nations to stop “continued United Arab Republic violations of the principle of freedom of the seas with respect to Israeli ships and other ships trading with Israel”.

Mr. Curran said that he directed the plea to the White House with a warning that continuation of the Arab restrictions could result in a boycott by members of the 6,500,000 member International Transport Workers Federation. In his request to President Kennedy, Mr. Curran complained specifically about denials of free passage through the Suez Canal to Israeli ships or vessels with cargo destined to or from Israel. He also charged that American merchant seamen were subject to indignities and abuses in Arab countries.

In making the State Department reply public, the leader of the National Maritime Union said that the delegates to the International Transport Workers’ Seafarers Section executive council meeting last week in Rotterdam has promised to address similar pleas for action to their governments. The section meeting was attended by delegates from 13 maritime nations, he stated.

STATE DEPT. SAYS SUCH PRESSURE WOULD COMPLICATE ‘QUIET’ EFFORTS

Mr. Curran also noted that he had turned to the White House after being informed by Dr. Ralph Bunche, Undersecretary of the United Nations, that the UN could act only on the basis of complaints brought by governments and that there had been no complaints before it — even from Israel.

U. Alexis Johnson, deputy Undersecretary of State, told Mr. Curran in his reply that the State Department had “long been concerned” by the Arab boycott. Explaining the Arab contention that the denial of the Suez Canal passage was justified by the existence of a state of war between Israel and the UAR, Mr. Johnson said:

“It is clear from the foregoing that the undesirable restrictions to which your telegram refers are an outgrowth of the deep political problem created by the unresolved Arab-Israel situation. While we have repeatedly made clear our willingness to assist the parties in achieving a solution of the problem between them, we have also felt that the United Nations is the appropriate agency for the settlement and that strong pressure applied unilaterally by a Government or by private groups would not only cause sharp resentment but would also complicate quiet efforts to achieve progress.”

Mr. Johnson added: “The United States Government has given full support to the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to work towards a solution of the transit problem”. As for alleged indignities and threats of violence to seamen, Mr. Johnson said the State Department had received no recent complaints. He said that the State Department would extend every appropriate assistance to American seaman who may encounter difficulties abroad.