Canada is Not Plannning Any Legislation to Deal with Boycot

Canadian Minister of External Affairs Don Jamieson says his government is “not proposing to go the legislative route” to deal with the effect of the Arab boycott on Canadian companies that that refuse to abide by Atab demands, Jamieson, who affirmed that “we have been quite categorical in our denunciation of the boycott,” noted that the Canadian policy adopted last October “denies governmental assistance of any kind” to a company that is complying with the boycott.

He said it was too early to see the effect of his government’s policy but added that Canada will “keep monitoring ” trade with the Arab countries and “consulting” with the United States about the boycott. The Minister’s comments were in response to questions from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at a meeting last week with foreign and domestic reporters at Blair House where Jamieson accompanied Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau on his official visit to President Carter.

The boycott issue came into focus last week when the senate banking subcommittee held a series of hearings. One of the witnesses opposing the boycott was McGill University law professor Irwin Cotler who presented to the subcommittee recommendations for a “common front” among countries hit by the boycott and urged Canadian laws to buttress that country’s policy.

On the issue of whether the Canadian government was ferreting out former Nazis living in that country, Jamieson said “I know of no such cases.” He said he was informed that “some” Nazis might move to Canada. Asked thether Canadian authorities were investigating this report, he said that “security agencies by design do not always advise me in advance.” According to one recent report, Archbishop Valarian Trifa, who has been suspended from the board of the National Council of Churches, is believed planning to move to Canada, Trifa is a former laeder in the fascist Rumanian Iron Guard.

POLICY REGARDING THE PLO

Regarding Canada’s view of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Jamieson said “we have not been in communication with the PLO.” He said Canadian policy is “pretty much” like that of the U.S. with respect to the terrorist organization. He said he agrees with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance’s position that there “is no way for Israel to be prepared to negotiate with PLO” as long as the “PLO declaration stands to cause the eradication of Israel.” However, Jamieson said, “the Palestinians must have some voice in the settlement to be arrived at.” He said Canada has not decided on that “mechanism” is to be adopted.

The Canadian official categorically opposed a Jackson-Vanlk amendment for Canada regarding trade benefits and Soviet emigration policy. “Our position is that we will respect United Nations sanctions, but we ourselves won’t stop dealing with a country simply because we don’t like their postures or policy.” he said. He added that he does not see anything “remotely” resembling the Jackson-Vanlk measure in a future Canadian law.