Pige Twe
THE JEWISH NEWS
Four Ardent Campaign Workers
Friday, 'April 9, 1948
New Oil Pipeline, 'State of Chaos' in Food
Conditions Aggravate Palestine Situation
Britain Abandons 'Neutrality,' Apparently Preparing Ground
To Remain in Zion; Arabs Reject, Jews Welcome
Appeal for Truce from UN, High Commissioner
Jacques Reynier, Red Cross of-
ficial in charge of the Palestine
operation, told newsmen that the
relief organization had asked the
By Jewish News Special Correspondent
LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y.—Adoption of the U. S. resolution Palestine Government, Jews and
to adhere to the Geneva
by the Security Council which paved the way for the conven- Arabs
Convention on rules of warfare.
ing of another special session of the UN General Assembly He said the Red Cross had also
to "reconsider" the Palestine question is beginning to pale into advanced the following requests:
comparative insignificance compared with new developments
on the international front.
—Photo by Paul Kirsch, Jewish News Photographer
Four ardent Allied Jewish Campaign workers exchanged experi-
ences on their solicitations at the opening rally of the drive, at Hotel
Staler, March 30. Left to right: SIDNEY L. ALEXANDER, NATHAN
LURIE, HARRY COHEN and LOUIS STOLL
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Freedom of Conscience: The Madison and Jefferson Tradition
To this Commentator, the 8-to-1 decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the Champaign, Ill., religious education case
affecting our public school system remains the most significant
single occurrence in our time justifying rejoicing that this country
adheres to the principle of separating church and state.
The Supreme Court decision has not received universal accept-
ance and endorsement. While it has been acclaimed unanimously
in Jewish ranks, in some Christian quarters attempts are being made
to counteract it. For instance, the Catholic Weekly magazine Com-
monweal charges that "in order to avoid her son's being laughed at,
Mrs. Vashti McCollum (the Champaign woman who carried the
case to the Supreme Court) and the groups that supported her, are
attempting to pull down the whole public-school system, Sampson-
like." Commonweal then poses these question:
"Is there no way by which communities who endorse 'released time'
can save it? The Congress of the United States has a chaplain .for each
House; the G. I. Bill of Rights allows veterans to train at Government
expense for the ministry in denominational schools. The U. S. Naval and
Military Academies have compulsory religious attendance at Sunday ser-.
vices. All these profoundly American activities are challenged by the
Supreme Court's school case judgment. There must surely be some way
in which the citizens of these United States can prevent the Establishment
of Atheism in the name of a few dissatisfied persons." • ,
Being among those who are satisfied with the Supreme Court
decision, your Commentator would-like briefly to refer to the back-
ground of the First Amendment to the Constitution and the prin-
ciple of Freedom of Conscience which dominates American ideals.
Commonweal's editorial maintains that Thomas Jefferson held it
to be compatible for religious exercises be held at the State Uni-
versity of Virginia (which he founded). This is true. Jefferson be-
lieved that religious studies should be deferred until students are
old enough to discuss the Bible in their college classes. Commonweal
needs to be reminded, however, that Jefferson collaborated with
James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, in the battle against
Patrick Henry's resolution in the Virginia Legislature to "pay a
moderate tax or contribution annually for the support of the Chris-
tian religion or of some Christian church, denomination or com-
munion of Christians or of some form of Christian worship."
The story is related in Irving Brant's great biography, of James
Madison ("James Madison: The Nationalist: 1780-1787") published
by Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis, to which reference already was
made in this column a week ago. There was a bitter struggle to
defeat Henry's motion. We are told that "Patrick Henry's speech
in favor of religious assessments has not been handed down to
posterity. Madison wrote almost half a century afterward that the
measure was 'supported by all his eloquence,' but a plea to unite
state and church is not of the sort on which libertarian fame is
built."
Jefferson and Madison were at a loss what to do to beat Henry's
resolution. Jefferson wrote to Madison: "What we haVe to do, I
think, is devotedly to pray for his death." (Doesn't this belie the
Commonweal argument?) But Madison had a better idea: "Work on
his (Henry's) love of distinction and elect him governor. Benjamin
Harrison was ineligible to re-election" (to quote Brant). That's how
it worked. Madison's maneuvers of delaying action worked and
Henry's proposal was defeated. It marked the beginning of a long
era of religious freedom in the United States of America—an era
that now we can refer to as "unending" as a result of the recent
Supreme Court decision in the McCollum case.
Since Commonweal has seen fit to speak in terms of preventing
"the Establishment of Atheism," the following quotations from
Brant's book deserve to be passed on to our readers and to the
periodical we disagree with:
"Madison's comparison of a religious assessment with the Inquisition
did not represent anti-Catholicism. It came from one who has described
the emancipation of Irish Catholics from 'the shackles on their religious
rights' as one of the current 'proofs of the progress of light and freedom'
Neither was he fighting the Episcopal church. as a church, but only its
efforts to link itself with the state and secure support from public revenues.
"This remonstrance against religious assessments continues to stand,
not merely through the years but through the centuries, as the most
powerful defense of religious liberty ever written in America. It did its
work so well that at last even the memory of the actual issue passed out
of the consciousness of the people . .
"The lasting significance of this lies in its bearing upon the guaranty
of religious liberty in the First Amendment to the United States Consti-
tution, - written by Madison five years later . .
"With this and the assessment fight fresh in his mind when he came
to draft the federal Bill of Rights, Madison went beyond the generalities
of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and produced this positive and all-
inclusive injunction: 'Congress shall make no law respecting the estab-
lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' The Four-
teenth Amendment afterward made that commandment binding upon the
states . . ."
Here we have the background for what happened in the Sup-
reme Court 164 years later: the reaffirmation by an overwhelming
vote of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish judges that church and state
must remain separate and distinct.
Mr. Brant's book, great in its totality. acquires greater worth
for the splendid chapter, "Freedom of Religion," which describes
the Jefferson-Madison battle against tax assessments for the support
of the church in Virginia.
In the light of the reaffirmation of great American ideals
in the religious education case, perhaps all hope is not lost
that the principles of justice also will be revived in the Pales-
tinian issue. We blush for shame that American "statesmen"
should have betrayed pledges and should have torn to shreds
sacred pledges. The clock was turned back by Americans who
are disgracing the ideals of our country. Our President is per-
haps the worst offender in this betrayal. If only the case could
have been sent to our liberal Supreme Court! But—perhaps
public opinion, among ALL member UN nations, will compel
just action on April 16.
The Hotfoo t
By Samuel Grafton
(In his column "I'd Rather Be Right")
A low form of humor, which consists of inflicting a sudden,
painful surprise on the victim; as for example, the effect produced
by inserting a lighted match between the sole and upper of some-
one's shoe, or by an American speech to the UN suddenly aban-
doning support for America's own plan for the partition of Palestine.
,
1. "Neutral zones" be established in
fighting areas so that the sick and
owunded, and women and children,
might find refuge and receive medi-
cal aid and food until the fighting
subsides.
2. Hospitals and other medical cen-
ters be 'immunized" and not used as
bases for attacks so that they do not
become targets for retaliation.
The fact that the British dole-that the meanie: of his resolution
gate—Sir Alekander Cadogan- was that "those parties violating
abandoned a position of "neutral- the peace must come to a stand-
ity" and voted for the U. S. pro- still" and that "hostilities and
posals for special session of the provocations" must cease. Use of
General Assembly and for athe word "provocations" was a be contributed by the Government,
"truce" in Palestine seems to in- I clear implication against Jewish Jews and Arabs. Funds contributed
by Jews would be used only for Jews,
dicate here that the British are immigration.
the same nrinciple applying for Arabs.
beginning to mobilize for reten-
Mr. Austin, with an affected
Sir Henry L. Gurney, Chief
tion of military forces in Pales-
tine and therefore to remain in „ tremor in his voice, stated: Secretary of the Palestine Gov-
These legalistic arguments as to ernment, warned all Britons in
power there. .
who is more to blame and who is Jerusalem that the last chance
New Pipeline
less to blam- are nothing com- for them to leave Palestine in
One single occurence of the pared to the great objective of Army convoys and Government-
week appears to prove our con- saving human lives." He pre- chartered troopships would be
tention of three weeks ago that saged the possible American en- April 15, a month before the
there is conspiracy to keep the dorsement of British disarming Mandate terminates.
British in Palestine. It is the of Haganah when he said no one
At least 60 persons were killed
announcement that the British has the right to use force in Pal-
government has aii 4- '—ized High estine, no state and no people ex- and 61 injured when an express
train bound for Haifa from Cairo
Commissioner for Palestine Sir cept the mandatory.
hit a landmine near the Jewish
Alan Cunninghaia to grant a
settlement on Benyamina, on the
franchise for the construction of
Truman Seeking Aid of Pope
coastal plain of Samaria. The
another pipeline across Palestine
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Myron engine and the first four coaches
to the Iraq Petroleum Co., which C. Taylor, President Truman's were derailed. Most of the cas-
operates the Iraq-to-Haifa pipe- personal representative to the ualties were Arabs. About 40
lines. British, American, Nether- Vatican, who is now en route to British troops were also on the
lands and French oil interests Rome, may be carrying with him train.
controlling the company will pay a letter from the President to
The Jewish National Council
a yearly franchise of $180,000. Pope Pius XII in connection with disclosed that it has ordered all
The British communication to the Truman's appeal for an Arab- Palestinian Jews of military age
UN Palestine Commission stated Jewish truce in Palestine.
who are living abroad to register
that the new pipeline will handle
The Pope is reported to have at local Jewish Agency offices
oil from two Iraq areas, mainly
spent considerable time on the for military service.
oil from Transjordania.
The UN Commission decided to Palestine problem this weekend.
Britons Volunteer to Join
go on with its work to implement He discussed the situation with
UN Force for Palestine
the Nov. 29 decision, but agreed Maj. Gen. Sir Edward Spears,
LONDON (JTA,)—Large num-
to proceed with caution. Only who is known as pro-Arab and
the Danish member of the Com- later received James G. MacDon- bers of Britons, many of them
mission preferred that the group ald, former member of the veterans of the RAF, have ap-
should limit its activities to action Auglo - American Inquiry Com- plied to the United Nations in-
mittee who is pro-Zionist.
formation office here for service
on the non-political front.
The Commission revealed
Senator Wayne Morse, Oregon with any UN force which may
that the Palestine food situa- Republican, questioning the U. S. be sent to Palestine to keep order
tion is in a "state of chaos" and reversal on Palestine, told- the there.
that on May 15 there will be Senate that if the United Nations
The removal of the Jewish
only a two - week supply of reverses its decisions every time Agency headquarters and of the
wheat left in the country. It a nation threatens the peace by offices of other Jewish represent-
was decided to send a repre-
refusing to comply with such de- ative bodies in Jerusalem is urged
sentative to Washington to ne- cisions "it can never survive as by the London Economist, one of
gotiate with the British Food an instrumentality for maintain- the most influential British news-
Mission the possibility of alle- ing peace."
papers. The paper also suggests
viating the problem.
A demand that the United that Jews abandon the outlying
(Haganah conducted an entire States supports the Provisional settlements which can only be
week's battle to break the Arab Government of the Jewish state maintained from Jerusalem.
blockade on food to the be- as provided for by the United
French Arms Sale to Lebanon
leaguered 100,000 Jerusalem Nations decision to partition the
Jews. Cheering crowds greeted country was made by a trade
PARIS (JTA)—A Foreign Of-
the first food convoy that reached union delegation which called on fice spokesman here confirmed
Jerusalem after Haganah cap- Gordon P. Merriam, Chief of the that the French Government has
tured Kastel, strategic Arab vil- Near Eastern Division of the permitted a French armaments
lage five miles northwest of Jer- State Department. The delega- firm to sell and deliver a quan--
tion, sponsored by the American tity of arms to Lebanon, but add;
usalem.)
The Security Council's decision Jewish Labor Council, left with ed that the total value of the
to demand a truce in Palestine Merriam petitions signed by some shipments to date is only $87,000.
was followed up by a call for 100,000 organized workers urging
An arms • company admitted to
peace from High Commissioner the lifting of the State Depart- the JTA that it had received
Cunningham. While Hussein ment's embargo on arms ship- orders for $20,000,000 worth of
Khalidi, secretary c_F the Arab ments for Palestine Jews.
mortars, artillery and machine-
Higher Committee, said that "no
guns from Lebanon. A govern-
useful purpose would be served
Permanent Mission Set Up
ment official explained that the
by the conclusion of a truce un-
In Palestine by Red Cross
sale was in "fulfillment" of a
less the causes of the struggle
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Urging year-old Franco-Lebanese pact.
were removed by the revocation Jewish and Arab fighting forces
The French Cabinet has de-
of partition and renunciation of in Palestine to treat captured cided to investigate the arms deal,
Zionism,"
a
Jewish Agency enemies as "prisoners of war," after a stormy debate in which
spokesman stated however: "A the International Red Cross an- several ministers charged that
prerequisite to the discussion nounced that it is setting up a the minister of the Armed Forces
would be consideration of the permanent mission in eight Pal- authorized the sale without con-
question of Arab invaders of Pal- estine cities.
sulting the cabinet.
estine who are in possession of
certain northern parts of Pales-
tine."
The U. S. does not plan to be
the sole trustee in a trusteeship,
By-ARNOLD LEVIN
it was indicated here. Reliable
(Copyright, 1948, Independent Jewish Press Service, Inc.)
sources said that "cantonization"
is one of the projected American Professorial Objectivity
Prof. Harold Laski has, in some respects, been a Marano. He
schemes.
has' never denied his Jewishness, but until recent years he was too
Shertok Indicts U. S.
concerned with humanity at large to bother about that minute portion
Moshe Shertok, chief of the of humanity—the Jews. For some time now Prof. Laski has been
Jewish Agency's Political De- pointifically expounding on Jews as on other subjects.
His latest statement deals with Palestine, and from his dialectical
partment, told the Security Coun-
cil that the Jews are "ripe for tower above the struggle in which people pay with their lives, the
in
statehood" and will not be pushed Professor has pronounced Jewry as one of the three parties guilty
Palestine situation—the others being the British Labor Govern-
back from the threshold of inde- the
ment of whose Palestine policies he "condones" none, and America—
pendence. He charged the Amer- for her irresolute stand.
ican "truce" resolution was so
As to Jewry, he distributes the guilt equally among British Jews
worded as to exonerate implicitly "for not seeing the pattern of power politics" (which means what,
the aggression of the Arab States Professor? ); Palestine Jews for not having routed the dissidents
and equate the defenders of the (through collaboration with the British Gestapo, Professor? ) ; Ameri-
UN partition resolution with ban Jewry for having built too much on lobbying, and, in summary,
"world Jewry" for not having convinr!ed the Arabs that the Jewish
those who defy it Mr. Shertok's National
Home (how the Professor shuns the word state!) would
remarks anticipated and exposed facilitate their
own liberation. How should the Jews have gone about
a pious-sounding statement by it, and weren't there deterrents, such as - litritain's slick agents in the
U. S. delegate Warren Austin, be- Middle East?
fore the vote was taken, flaying
Never mind asking so many questionj. That spoils the esthetic-
equally Jews and Arabs, stating ethical pattern of the Professor's objectivity.
.
Heard in the Lobbies