The Arizona Post

Urge Britain To Act On Arab Boycott Of Firms

LONDON (JTA)—The British Government was urged in the House of Commons to intervene with the U. S. against action by Arab propagandists in the U. S. who have been spreading boycott propaganda against British firms dealing with Israel. It was also asked to take other concrete action to end the Arab states boycott of British shipping or other business firms which deal with Israel or firms whose executives or shareholders are Jews.

In all cases, Foreign Secretary Lloyd responded that the government would like more specific information about the cases cited before doing anything concrete. He also reiterated the British Government's opposition to such Arab activities and said the government had made this position clear to the Arab states on a number of occasions.

Labor MP Kenneth Robinson charged that Kamel Abdel Rahim, Yemen representative to the U.N., was directing the Arab Boycott Committee's actions against British firms trading with Israel from the Arab Information Center in New York. That office has an annual income of $4,000,000, obtained from American oil companies.

Another Laborite asked the government to "back to the hilt" British ships which were discriminated against by the Arab states because they carried cargoes to Israel. Mr. Lloyd retorted that there were very few such ships that went through the Suez Canal and that he wanted information about any such cases. He also asked for information, confidentially given, about British firms who suffered from Arab discrimination because of the race or religion of their personnel or owners.