A spokesperson for Mr. Greenberg said AIG's chief executive officer had been ailing, but Ms. Pewter said she heard otherwise.

Mr. Greenberg had been listed as the opening keynote speaker for the four-day conference of senior insurance reinsurance and financial executives that charges a $1,300 per person attendance fee, exclusive of the $200-a-night room charge at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel.

Besides Mr. Greenberg, the program lists appearances by chief executive officers from such industry leaders as Lloyd's of London, General Re, CNA, XL Capital Ltd., ACE Limited, SCOR, and Arch Reinsurance Ltd.

The symposium, late Friday, put out an announcement that in Mr. Greenberg's place Thomas R. Tizzio, the senior vice chairman of AIG would appear to give the talk at tomorrow's breakfast session.

Ms. Pewter indicated Mr. Tizzio was supplied after the group indicated its upset over Mr. Greenberg's decision.

She said the symposium was "very upset" because Mr. Greenberg is known to have the ear of President Bush and there were many of Mr. Greenberg's "clients here all waiting to hear from him."

Ms. Pewter said she had learned through independent sources that Mr. Greenberg's was in good health and was traveling. She said she understood now that cancellations of this sort by Mr. Greenberg are "a common occurrence" with him.

An AIG spokesperson, Ned Burke said, "Mr. Greenberg is getting over the flu." Asked if Mr. Greenberg was traveling, Mr. Burke said he did not know.

On Feb. 11, Mr. Greenberg was not present for an AIG conference call with analysts. Officials said then that he had the flu. When this prompted questions about a succession plan for Mr. Greenberg, who is in his seventies, analysts were reminded that his malady was "only the flu."

The World Insurance Forum will apparently have one Greenberg on hand, Jeff Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., the AIG chairman's son, is due to appear at a market leaders round table discussion of major industry issues.

Also slated to speak is Ellen Seidman a former special assistant for economic policy for President Clinton and chairman of the Working Group on Natural Disaster Insurance.