President Bok informed the United Committee of Third World Organizations this week of his position on the long-standing debate over the W.E.B. DuBois Institute, and the United Committee responded quickly with a sharply-worded attack on Bok's stance.

Bok's position was enunciated in a letter received by the United Committee Monday, in which he gave a more-or-less negative reply to a request that Bok meet with the committee to discuss its 12-point DuBois petition.

The Third World group's response, drafted at an emergency meeting Wednesday night, made no attempt to conceal its displeasure with the president. The group charged Bok with "a lack of familiarity with the issues surrounding the DuBois Institute and a general disregard for the interest which people have shown in the 12 points of the petition."

The group also said Bok "abdicates any responsibility for the development of the institute though he must make the final decisions in this matter."

Bok's letter made the following points:

I Several of the United Committee's proposals are included in the Leonard report;

I Some specific matters of policy should be left to the discretion of the institute's director; and,

I One or two of the United Committee's proposals, including the recommendation that the institute maintain a Ph.D. granting program, seem inadvisable or beyond the scope of the institute.

Bok suggested in his letter that the United Committee discuss the institute with Walter J. Leonard, special assistant to Bok and chairman of Bok's advisory committee on DuBois. In its statement the United Committee rejected Bok's suggestion.