Page Four DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE Friday, February 13, 1948 Strangely Neutral Detroit Jewish Chronicle Published Weekly by Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc., 548 Woodward, Detroit 26, Mich., CA. 1090 SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 Per Year, Single Copies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year March 3. 1916, at the Post Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879 Entered au Second-claw matte' SEYMOUR TILCHIN, President ROBERT KRAUSE, Business Manager GEORGE WEISWASSER, Editor-in-Chief Vol. 50, No. 4 Friday, February 13, 1998 (Adar 13, 5708)- Diplomacy at Work Despite its use of restrained diplomatic ph raeseology, the Palestine Commission makes it quite clear in its first reports that the British in London and Jerusalem are niaking every effort to wreck partition affer publicly rejecting every recommenda- tion of the UN Assembly to facilitate its success. . . The Commission could have been more blunt, but the niceties had to be main- tained. Britain was given a spanking when the Commission demanded more time to prepare for the changeover of administra- tion and suggested that the Security Coun- cil will be forced to consider the creation of an international armed force to carry out the Assembly's directives. This international exchange would be a childish farce were it • not for its tragic implications. For, and let' this not be minimized, if. the CommisSion prevails, the UN will win enormous, prestige. But if the Commission is overruled, it„ might .823 well give up the ghost and take the whole UN into the•limbo with it. • Bnai Brith Errs We were dismayed and saddened by Bnai Brith's refusal to join the American Jew- . ish Assembly,• successor to the American Jewish Conference. We believe that its action is a repudia- tion of everything Henry Morlsky stood for and is a heartless profanation of his memory, In a resolution explaining its policy, Bnai Brith attributed its rejection of the As- sembly plan to the refusal of other na- tional bodies to accept it. "In this state of events," the resolution read, "it is our opinion that a substantial unity is Un- achievable under the proposed plan." The resolution concludes, incongruously enough, with a statement affirming Bnai Brith's "traditiofial commitment to the ideal of unity in American Israel." We regret that we cannot see the hon- esty in these protestations of loyalty to the ideal. We know only that in an hour of great crisis to world Jewry, when the United Nations and the Truman adminis- tration should have been confronted with an exhibition of Jewish unity never before attained, one of the largest and most potent segments chose that hour to pro- claim that it would not join a national body formed to consolidate the many di- visions in American Jewry. . If Bnai Brith were sincere, it would have, instead, cited the inadequacies of the Assembly plan to which it objected; asked that they be corrected *nd then an- nounced its adherence to the proposal for the sake of brotherhood and unity, despite the proposal's admitted weaknesses. We cannot help but come to the conclu- sion that the present Bnai Brith leadership does not desire to see the establishment of a permanent, over-all Jewish organiza- tion which might diminish the order's in- dependence and the authority of some of its leaders. We do not believe that the membership of Bnai Brith, if the question were pre- sented before it, would confirm the rejec- tion. The rank and file would be more inclined to accept the assurance of distinguished leaders of American Israel that adherence would not jeopardize the independence of constituent groups. They would be more cordial to the As- sembly were they to be reminded of its predecessor's remarkable success at Wash- ington and in Paris, at the time the axis satellite treaties were being drawn, and of the respect and cooperation it received from military and civil officers because- it was known to be the voice of a unified American Jewry. Its value would be judged from the part it played before the Anglo-American Com- mission on Palestine where Mr, Monsky, LUCK WERE NOT OANAM. WE DETROIT 26, 51IC1R. representing 60 national Jewish organiza- tions, spoke on behalf of a majority of American Jews and he was listened to with deference. It has been well said that the American Jewish Conference—and now the Assem- bly—is American Jewish unity on the way. It does not yet speak for every Jew in America but it goes a long way toward that goal. NpouLpN'T criT A 0140.% 13uLLET •• Any organization which stands as a bar- rier towards achieving the goal performs a disservice to Israel. Write to Vandenberg! It is difficult to believe the reports, re- liable as they may have seemed, that Sena- tor Vandenberg has joined Defense Secre- tary and State Undersecretary Lovett in a conspiracy with Loy Henderson's cabal to vitiate American support of the Jewish State under the UN partition pltin. Time after tirhe, "the. Michigan senator has proclaimed' his sympathy with Zionist aims. Ile has led Jewish leaders-everywhere to believe that is on of the staunchest friends. of the Jewish State goal. It would ill-become the man who may be destined to be the next President of the United States to betray the trust that American Jewry has placed in him. To the Jewish cause, a reversal by Van- -010'• •44" • World W. Unica. r 4444101. , • denberg might mean disaster. To the in- fant UN, it could be the starting point of disintegration. The American form 'of government places inordinate power and influence over foreign affairs in the hands of the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee. But Senator Vandenberg is more than chair- man. He is president pro-tempore of the Senate and his party's most authoritative •spokesman in the foreign field inside and out of the UN. One word from the senator, one unequi- vocal word and the doubts and suspicions and limitations of American support of the UN decision could be wiped away in view of President Truman's outspoken indorse- ment. Letters to the Editor I • AID HAGANAH! Dear Editor: Permit me, through the col- umns of your valuable publi- cation, to offer a suggestion on one metho4 to help provide for the embattled Yishuv. In the face of the mounting toll of our defenders, we here must do all in our power to afford such assistance as we can. I propose that wherever social games are indulged in, boxes be placed and that the players make it a point to cofitribute in that way to the fund for the Jewish fighters. JACOB MOHR, 2739 Tuxedo. TO VANDENBERG Senator Vandenberg, let it be pointed out, has never publicly revealed himself Dear Editor: In connection with your front as an avowed backer of the UN partition page story headlined "Plotters program. Turn Vandenberg From Parti- In a letter to the Jewish Chronicle at tion, Report says," the following the time of the UN Assembly debate,, he in- quotation from Senator Vanden- formed us that' he was waiting for the berg's letter of Feb. 2 may be of propitious moment to voice his support. great interest: "I agree with you that the We respectfully point out that that mo- United Nation's Security Council ment has arrived. should give immediate attention We urge every reader to write or wire to implementing the new Pales- Senator Vandenberg and appeal to him to tine partition decision. make that statement of support at once. "Inasmuch as the United Na- We advise them to request that he act tions has now complete jurisdic- to implement his indorsement with a de- tion I would not think that the mand for an international force from small United States could act unilater- ally in any phase of the problem. UN states to carry out the UN decision But I agree that the United Na- and that he urge-the President to modify tions Security Council should the arms embargo to permit the shipment give immediate attention to the of arms in defense of that program. situation to which you refer and I ,have so indicated to our gov- ernment." From the above it can be seen that Henderson has not as yet converted Senator Vandenberg to his point of view. But it is also evident that the Senator does not Why Jews Do Not Seek Converts see that the United‘ States gov- "Your question, why I do not try to ernment did act unilaterally by make converts, hais I must say, somewhat imposing an embargo which indi- rectly helps the Arab aggressors surprised me. who are in defiance of the UN "The duty to proselytize springs clear- decision and authority and who ly from the idea that outside a certain threaten world peace. • • * belief there is no salvation. I, as a Jew, The senator, as well as other am not bound to accept that dogma, be- cause, according to the teachings of the men of, standing in the govern- Rabbis, the Righteous of all nations shall ment (namely: Senator Ferguson, Secretary of State Marshall, Sec- have part in the rewards of the future retary of Defense Forrestal, the world. U. S. delegate to the UN, Warren "Your motive, therefore, is foreign to Austin, and—without fail—Presi- me; nay, as a Jew, I am not allowed to dent Truman) must immediately attack any religion which is sound in its be apprised of our feelings and views in the matter of Palestine. moral teachings." It is imperative that they be MOSES MENDELSOHN, 1729-86 flooded with letters, postcards, Shaarey Zedek 'Recorder. and telegrams telling' . them to • The Visiting Editor urge our government to follow a decisive program of action which will include: 1. Revoking the embargo on arms shipment to Palestine Jews. 2. Entering into a lend-lease agreement with the authorized institutions of Palestine Jews to provide them with the necessary arms to protect their lives and property. 3. Insisting that the Security Council declare the Arabs aggres- sors and defiers of the IJN de- cision and, therefore to be dealt with according to UN rules. 4. Insisting that the Security Council request the British gov- ernment . to implement the UN recommendation and immediately open the port of Tel Aviv to un- restricted Jewish immigration, and to prepare the hinterland for the accommodation of Jewish re- patriates. 5. Insisting that the UN Pales- tine Commission immediately proceed to .Palestine to lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish State, organization of Jewish militia and a provi- sional government and—in gen- eral—implement the partition de- cision. 6. Condemnation of the British policy in Palestine and demand- ing its immediate abolition. 7. Taking action to transfer Jewish DP's from American Oc- cupation zones to Palestine b Oct. 1. Urging the support of' House Somers-Scott Resolutio • • • Our task as far as Palestine ie concerned is really just beginning. We must. fight the old policy of procrastination, equivocation and appeasement of Arab murderers whit again is in vogue in Wash- ington. It is time to get down to work and to do it without delay. We have been through it all before. But there is no time to lose now. It must be organized mass ac- tion; the danger is real. LOUIS PANUSH. EDUCATION LEAGUE Dear Editor; Please accept the very sincere thanks and appreciation of the Youth Education League for the assistance and cooperation you have at all times extended with respect to its publicity. Unques- tionably this played a substantial part in the successful pledge fund drive and luncheon just concluded. MRS. J. SKLAR, Publicity Chairman.