Symbol of Freedom
Senator Calls for Deadline
In Liquidation of DP Camps
End of British Rule
Sir Alan G. Cunningham
Says He is Last Commissioner (
GENEVA — Sen. Harry P. Cain of Washington, a mem-
ber of the Senate committee on DP's and the IRO has pro-
posed that the United Nations set a deadline for the liquida-
tion of the DP camps.
In an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency,
Sen. Cain advocated that the UN make a definite statement
as to whether the displaced Jews will be permitted to go to
Palestine because "nine out of ten
Jewish DPs want to go there."
itation and resettlement pro-
The IRO Preparatory Commis- grams.
sion turned over to the Joint Dis-
IRO officials announced that
tribution Committee $350,000 there would be a further distribu-
which it had received from the tion of funds obtained from Swed-
Swedish government. This is the en as soon as difficulties relating
first payment made by the Swed- to the conversion of the Swedish
ish government under an agree- krona into other forms of cur-
ment to transfer $13,500,000 to the rency, are ironed out. Meanwhile,
IRO from German assets frozen in only $17,000 was given to any
Sweden.
other agency from the JDC. It
An international reparations went to the International Rescue
commission meeting in Paris in and Relief Committee.
December, 1945, decided to turn
Help Map Winter Program
this sum, plus approximately
BUCHAREST, (JTA) -- Dr.
$11,500,000 similarly frozen in
Switzerland over to Jewish vol- Joseph Schwartz, European di-
untary relief agencies. Subse- rector of the Jciint Distribution
quently, it was decided to trans- Committee, left for Sofia where
fer these funds to the JDC and the he will help to plan the local re-
Jewish Agency for relief, rehabil- lief program for this winter.
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'Covenant Everlasting'—Uninterrupted Link With Zion
Our antagonists, inspired by Arab claims, are trying to create
the impression that Jews have lost claim and link to Palestine
with the defeat of Bar Kochba and the final unsuccessful Jewish
revolt in the year 135. Moshe Shertok, in his masterful address
at the Town Meeting of the Air, disproved this claim. Others have
shown by means of facts and figures that our association with
Palestine has been uninterrupted for more than 3,500 years.
The two most brilliant defenses of our position appeared
during the past few weeks.
Berl Locker's "Covenant Everlasting: Palestine in Jewish
History," published by Sharon Books, 45 E. 17th St., New York 17,
is a masterful presentation of facts indicating that at no time
have Jews left Palestine; that never have we abandoned claims
to the land; that our ties with Eretz Israel have been and re-
main unbroken.
Prof. Solomon Zeitlin, writing on the subject "Jewish Rights
in Palestine" in the October, 1947, issue of Jewish Quarterly
Review, shows that "Judaism is the only religion and the Jews
are the only people in the world • who, from earliest times to
modern days, are identified religiously, historically and legally
with Palestine."
*
*
*
Berl Locker's Book 'Required Reading on Palestine'
Dr. James G. McDonald has made the interesting statement,
upon reading Berl Locker's "Covenant Everlasting," that it is
"required reading for all who speak or write on the problem
of Palestine." The eminent Christian Zionist and philo-Semite
has not exaggerated. Mr. Locker; who speaks with authority not
only because his is a member of. the Executive of the Jewish
Agency but also because of his scholarship and learning, has
made use of all available sources—Biblical, Mishnaic, Josephus,
Graetz, modern literature, etc.—to prove his points.
We learn from Locker's book how Jews have uninterruptedly
engaged in agriculture in Palestine; how the cultural life of our
people continued without cessation throughout the centuries;
how. in spite of changes of overlordship and revolutions, the
Jewish population remained on the land and held title to historic
claims in behalf of the entire people Israel. Even during the 350
years of Arab domination, there was a sturdy - Jewish group in
Palestine. Thus, the link between Israel and Eretz Israel never
was broken.
* * *
—
'Historical Connection and Historical Right'
Mr. Locker proves another point: that not only have Jews
preserved the historical connection with Palestine, but also have
retained their historical right to return home. He points out that
"historical right" "is a somewhat discredited conception in the
democratic, and, above all, in the Socialist world;" that it has
"become the antithesis of the democratic principle of national
self-determination;" but he disproves these unfortunate claims
most logically.
Thus, he shows that Arabs have gained from Jewish set-
tlement in Palestine; that Jewry, instead of establishing an alien
rule, is replanting "in its ancient home the people that was up-
rooted from it;" that the Arab population, contrary to claims
of "displacement," has doubled since Jewry's - colonization. It
would do Jews and Arabs well to read Locker's factual analysis
of our claims; and it would not hurt if statesmen who are de-
bating the issue would become acquainted with the historical
facts from his excellent little book.
*
*
*
`Jews Never Gave Up Title to the Land' Zeitlin
In a sense, Prof. Solomon- Zeitlin's brief article in the Jewish
Quarterly Review is as significant as Mr. Locker's entire book.
In 15 pages, Prof. Zeitlin shows how Jews always have re-
tained title to Palestine. His irrefutable facts reveal that Jews
not only always were in Palestine as an active community, but
that they dominated the scene and retained their rights to the
land religiously, historically and legally. He makes this im-
portant point:
- "When the Turks conquered Palestine from the Mamelukes,
they, too, held the country as an occupying power only. Thus
the rights of the Arabs and the Turks to Palestine were based
_ on POSSESSION but not on TITLE. They never conquered
Palestine from the Jews, and the Jews never gave up title to
the land."
Prof. Zeitlin proves conclusively that only for Jews has Pales-
tine been truly the Holy Land, that neither for Arabs nor Christians
has it been primarily; holy soil. He writes that "only the places
of Jesus's birth and burial were considered loca sancta," and
we learn with a great deal of interest that "the first to call
Palestine the Holy Land, Terra Sancta, was Pope Urban II,"
who used this term in addressing the Council of Clermont in
1095. Prof. Zeitlin comments: "The name, Holy Land, applied to
Palestine, thus was the first time emphasized by Pope Urban II
and has been frequently used down to our own time. However,
neither in the New Testament nor in the writings of the Church
Fathers, was the term Holy Land ever applied to Palestine."
These are historical facts that must not be overlooked.
Locker's and Zeitlin's works are part of truth-revealing efforts
that were made necessary by the spread of falsehoods intended
to undermine the Jewish position. We have faith that truth will
—
triumph.
Friday, November 14, 1947
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Two
John E. Cone, (left) assistant
district attorney of Brooklyn, mixes
Irish soil flown specially from Eire,
with Palestine soil supplied by
Judge Samuel S. Leibowitz at
the Landsmanshaften Conference
for Histadrut on Balfour Day.
Irish, Jews Mix
Soil Denoting
Fight for Liberty
NEW YORK -- Judge Samuel
S. Leibowitz, president of the
United Organization for the Pa-
lestine Pioneers, launched the
Palestine Histadrut Campaign
for $5,000,000 among the Lands-
manschaften of America at the
annual conference held here on
Balfour Day.
The conference was addressed
by Zalman Rubashov and Joseph
Bankover, Histadrut leaders, who
told of the work being done by
the Palestine labor movement for
the establishment of the Jewish
State.
In a moving ceremony, Judge
Leibowitz and John E. Cone,
president of the Ancient Order
of Hibernians, mixed samples of
Palestinian and Irish soil as a
symbol of the fight for freedom
of both peoples. .
A resolution was adopted en-
dorsing the activities of the Jew-
ish Agency during the present
United Nations debate on Pale-
stine. The Landsmanschaften also
pledged support to Hagana and
denounced the dissident role of
the Irgun.
Judge Leibowitz was re-elected
for his `fourth term as president.
Arabs Need Not Be
Suspicious of Jeiv' s,
Labor Parley Told
PITTSBRUGH, (JTA) — "Peo-
ple of the Orient, long suspicious
of all Westerners who enter as
potential exploiters, are also sus-
picious of Jewish people. They
should realize, however, that we
too are of Eastern origin," Hayim
Greenberg, Laborite member of
the Jewish Agency executive, said
in an address to the 26th annual
convention of the Labor Zionist
Organization of America, attend-
ed by 500 delegates.
The convention also was ad-
dressed by Berl Locker, another
Laborite member of the Jewish
Agency • executive. He pointed
out that the ability of the Jewish
people to reconstruct itself as an
independent nation and the abil-
ity of Palestine to serve as a
basis for this rehabilitation has
been proved by Jewish achieve-
ments in Palestine. Moshe Sher-
tok, head of the political depart-
ment of the Jewish Agency, who
was scheduled to speak, was de-
tained in New York by urgent
business at the United Nations.
The convention concluded with
a solemn assurance of the labor
Zionists'. good-will and determi-
nation to dwell in peace and
amity with the Arabs.
Highlight of the political ses-
sions was the acceptance of a
report calling upon the United
States government to implement
its promises to expedite the
transporting of Jewish refugees
to Palestine and to give the ut-
most financial aid to the speedy
establishment of a Jewish state
in Palestine.
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Declar-
ing that he was undoubtedly the
last British High Commissioner
for Palestine, Sir Alan G. Cun-
ningham told residents of an
Arab village in the Samaria dis-
trict that Britain wishes to depart
from the country peacefully,
leaving behind a basis for future
development.
In another village he visited
during a tour of the district, the
High, Commissioner said that it
was for the people of Palestine
to decide the conditions under
which the British withdrawal
would be effected. He again
reiterated that the British wanted
to leave behind peace and secur-
ity when they withdraw.
In one of the first concrete pre-
liminar-ies to British withdrawal
from Palestine, Chief Secretary
Sir Henry L. Gurney has ordered
rigorous economies involving the
dismisal of temporary goyern-
ment officials and the halting of
purchases by government depart-
ments. No new projects are to be
initiated and all expenditures are
to be reduced to a minimum,
even if these moves lessen the
efficiency of the departments con-
cerned.
A questionnaire regarding
evacuation will be circulated
soon among all British officials.
It has already been distributed to
British members of the police
force. The questionhaire-asks-the
officials about their future plans
and makes reference to possible
employment in England and.,Brit-
ish-controlled territories. How-
ever, there is no indication as to
the date of withdrawal.
National U.IA. Conference in
Atlantic City Dec. 12 to 15
A national conference of the the continued program of assist-
United Jewish Appeal will be ante to newcomers who find a
held at the Chelsea Hotel, Atlan- haven in the U. S.
tic City, Dec. 12 through Dec. 15.
to determine American Jewry's
program in 1948 for European
relief and rehabilitation, immi-
gration and settlement in Pales-
tine and refugee aid in the United
States, it was announced by BOSTON — The Jewish corn-
Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general munity of Boston this week made
Boston Makes History
By Topping WA Goal
UJA chairman. history for the second time in
The largest fund-raising agency two years when it reached its
ever established by the Jews of
the United States, the United record-shattering $9,100,000 goal
Jewish Appeal provides the to become the first large city con,
the financial resources for the ducting fall drives in behalf of
programs of three major Ameri- the $170,000,000 United Jewish
can organizations: the Joint Dis- Appeal to go over the top for the
tribution Committee, the United second successive year.
Palestine Appeal and the United Announcement of the Boston.
Service for New Americans.
triumph was made at a closing
The annual conference at At- campaign dinner in the Hotel
lantic City will have before it a Statler by Herman Gilman, chair-
report on the results of the $170,- man, - who also headed the victori--
000,000 drive now nearing corn- ous 1946 Hub City drive which
pletion and will take concrete produced a greater result than
action to decide the quota of the that of any comparable city in
1948 UJA drive. the nation.
Outstanding authorities on More than doubling his con-
world Jewish developments will tribution of last year, Archbishop
present an analysis of the position Richard J. Cushing helped Boston
of the Jews in Europe, the new reach its precedent-shattering
problems and opportunities that goal by forwarding a check for
may arise out of the United Na- $2,500. The Archbishop's gift last
tions decision on Palestine and year was 1,000.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1947, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, inc.)
U. N. Sidelights
The traditional Hebrew greeting "Next Year in Jerusalem" will
lose its meaning after a Jewish State is established in Palestine . .
Because the city of Jerusalem will definitely not be a part of the
Jewish State . . . The capital of the Jewish State will be Tel Aviv
where the Jewish government will have its seat, since Jerusalem
will be internationalized . . . Many Jews in Jerusalem, who are
employed in national agencies, are worried about moving to Tel
Aviv . . . It is obvious that they will have to move together with
the institutions in which they are employed . . .What worries them
is the shortage of dwellings which is acute in Tel Aviv even now.
Questions are being asked concerning the disposition of the Jewish
Agency building and other modern buildings of Jewish institutions
in Jerusalem . . . With a Jewish Cabinet established in Tel Aviv
there will be no need for the Jewish Agency in its present form .
There will also be no need for the existence of other major institu-
tions, the functions of which will be taken over by the Jewish
Government . . . Jerusalem will thus become city No. 2 in Jewish
Palestine, while everything of importance for the functioning of the
state will be centered in Tel Aviv . . For reasons which cannot
be disclosed, the Jewish Agency is not pressing very strongly at
the United Nations for inclusion of even the new Jewish section of
Jerusalem in the Jewish State ... Some Agency leaders advance solid
arguments in favor of leaving the whole of Jerusalem under United
Nations supervision.
* * *
Art Notes
•
Those interested in Jewish art will be greatly impressed with
an album of drawings of the late Henrietta. Szold, Hadassah founder,
done by the Palestinian artist P. Litvinowsky . . . The album has
just been produced in this country by L. Gershensohn, a youthful
Palestinian who was Miss Szold's secretary for many years . . . It
is a labor of love by both the artist - and the publisher and it deserves
to be in every Jewish home in America . • . In fact, Hadassah would
perform a valuable educational service by seeing to it that the album
reaches as many Jewish families in the United States as possible . ,
While serving as a monument to Miss Szold by presenting sketches
of her in various moods, the album is also a tribute to the Hadassah
. . . And as M•'s, Moses P. Epstein points out in her foreword, there
is a generation among the 250,000 members of the Hadassah which
never knew Henrietta Szold, but who revere her name and her spirit
. . It is this generation that should be given the opportunity to
acquire the Szold album . . . The Hadassah headquarters should
suggest to its branches that this volume be rushed as a Hanukah
present for young members ... Or it could arrange to give it to those
securing new members for the organization . • . Non Hadassah fam-
ilies will also find Litvinowsky's collection of sketches 'a fine additioti
-
to their art library.