ARAB STATES’ BOYCOTT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30313, 13 December 1963, Page 17

ARAB STATES’ BOYCOTT

Jewish Director Declines Offer (N.Z.P.A.-it cuter—Copyright) LONDON, December 12. Lord Mancroft, a prominent British Jew, has told the Norwich Union Insurance Group he does not intend to resume the directorship he resigned after reported Arab pressure.

In a letter to Sir Robert Bignold, the group'* president. Lord Mancraft said: “Thank you for asking me to rejoin the London board of the Norwich Union. “I am sure that the implications of your invitation will be understood both at home and abroad. “I feel, however, that after all that has happened my reassociation with the Norwich Union could not lead to a proper working relationship. “I must therefore, with regret, decline your offer.” State of War Lord Mancroft’s resignation —at the Norwich Union board’s request—is tied up with the Arab boycott of firms doing business with Israel. The Arab States regard themselves as being in a state of war with Israel. When he resigned, Lord Mancroft said he was certain the Norwich Union had not been in any way motivated by the slightest degree of anti-Semitism. The announcement that Norwich Union had offered to reinstate Lord Mancroft was made yesterday after the group’s top officials had met Sir Barnett Janner, the pre- ’ sident, and other officers of

the Board of Deputies of British Jews Sir Barnett Janner. who is a Labour member of Parliament is to ask Mr Edward Heath, President of the Board of Trade, in the House of Commons this week “Whether he is aware that there is interference from foreign countries designed to coerce British firms into suspending their dealings with a friendly Power. and what steps he will take to obviate thia interference.’' Sir Barnett Janner led the fight to have Lord Mancroft restored to the Norwich Union London board. When he heard that Lord Mancroft had turned down the offer to return to the board Sir Barnett Janner said: “It is clear that the Norwich Union now realise that they made a serious error in demanding his resignation in the first instance.” He added: “It is very unfortunate that his services were not retained without such an incident” Compensation Later, a Norwich Union spokesman said Lord Mancroft had been compensated for losing his seat on the board and it was understood he would give the money to charity. Asked if it were a considerable sum he said: “It was what we would consider a normal rate of compensation for a man in his poaition. It was not a million pound*. That i* a substantial figure in my view.” The spokesman said no approach had been made to anyone to fill Lord Mancroft’s position.