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Jewish War Veterans Discuss Boycotting Shell Oil Products in U.S.

August 14, 1957
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A proposal for a boycott of the Shell Oil Company, in retaliation for the British-owned parent firm’s decision to halt sales operations in Israel, was under consideration today by the national executive committee of the Jewish War Veterans of America.

The JWV executive committee, meeting today prior to the opening tomorrow of the organization’s 62nd annual national convention, was understood to be considering recommendation of such action for delegate approval. Officials said that the proposal was drafted in response to an “overwhelming demand” by delegates from all parts of the United States.

The executive committee named an emergency subcommittee on the problem and a delegation headed by Abraham Kraditor, a past JWV national commander of New York and chairman of the JWV foreign affairs committee, met yesterday with H. S. M. Burns, a representative of the president of Shell Oil Company, to discuss the issue. If the convention, which ends Sunday, approves the proposal, the boycott will include organizing of a national committee to urge all Americans not to buy products made or distributed by Shell Oil Company, including the surrender of all credit cards.

Some JWV delegates were reported as believing that a counter-boycott would make American and foreign firms aware that concessions made by them to the Arab boycott against Israel and against American Jewish-owned firms will be answered by counteraction in the future.

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