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HE JEWISH NE WS
A Weekly Review
of Jewish Events
Story on Page 20
VOLUME 15—No. 24
2114 Penobscot Bldg.—Phone WO. 5-1155 Detroit 26, Michigan August 26, 19494490 7
Complications in
U. S. - Israel
Relations and
In Zionism
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Column on Page 2
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U. S. Pressure on Israel Denied;
McDonald Facilitates Friendship
NEW YORK—(JTA)—In a statement to the national administration council and
national executive committee' of the Zionist Organization of America, last Sunday, Daniel
Frisch, -ZOA president, revealed that Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern
Affairs George C. McGhee denied, in a conference with ,him in Washington, that the
United States government brought special pressure to bear to compel Israel to take in
250,000 Arab refugees. Mr. Frisch also reported that Mr. McGhee had denied that the
U. S. had asked for the transfer of the southern portion of the Negev to the Arabs.
The arrival in ,this country of U. S. Ambassador to Israel James G. McDonald is
expected to facilitate the cementing of friendly U. S.—Israel relations. Dr. McDonald
is conferring with State Department officials in Washington.
In a statement in Washington last week, Israel's Ambassador Eliahu Elath stated
that Israel would not accept more than 100,000 Arab refugees. Meanwhile there are
conflicting reports about pressure upon Israel by the U. S., on the eve of the report
to be submitted to the UN General Assembly in September by Paul A. Porter, American
member of the UN Conciliation Commission at Lausanne.
Importat Changes Pending in Israel's Cabinet
Direct JTA Teletype Wires to The Jewish News
—International Radiophoto
Home at Last:
This is t a view of the draped
casket of Dr. Theotlor Herzl, founder of the Zionist movement,
lying in state in front of the. Parliament Building in Tel Aviv.
It is flanked by Israeli veterans. Dr. Herzl's body was disin-
terred from his grave in Vienna and was brought to Israel for
ieburial in Jerusalem.
Follow-up story and photograph on Page 20)
TEL AVIV—Changes in the composition of the Israel Cabinet probably will not take
place for three or four months, Davar, the Mapai organ and leading Hebrew newspaikr
in Israel, predicted Tuesday. Premier David Ben-Gurion, who also holds the post of
defense minister, will_ not relinquish the latter position until after the implementation
of the proposed military service law, Davar stated. The paper pointed out that Ben-
Gurion repeatedly has expressed the desire to relinquish the defense ministry portfolio,
adding that negotiations to this end have been under way for some time. The paper
speculates that if one of the present Cabinet ministers assumed the defense portfolio
he will probably give up his present duties. It is expected, therefore, Davar adds, that
the contemplated Cabinet reshuffle may effect three or four ministers. Ben-Gurion is
anxious to give up defense ministry duties in order to devote himself to existing housing
problems.
The Combined tonnage of Israel's merchant marine now is 100,000, BarKochba
Meyerovitz, director of the Israel American Shipping Line, revealed Tuesday. He an-
nounced that his firm recently acquired two 10,500 ton cargo-vessels—the SS Tel Aviv
and SS Jaffa—which soon will fly the Isra eli flag. Meyerovitz said that during the first
year of its existence the Israel government expended $36,000,000 in freight and pass-
age charges, with only 25 per cent of that sum going to Israel shipping. He said that -
the development of the Jewish state's shipping industry will mean considerable savings
to the government.
Israel Population Increased 44 Per Cent in IS Months
Immigration to Israel has eased off slightly during the last quarter, Joshua Shai,
director-general of the Israeli Immigration Department, told a press conference. He
revealed that the total number of immigrants who arrived in the last three months was
50,000. Mr. Shai announced that the Jewish state's population has increased by 44 per
cent since its declaration of independence and that there are now 940,000 persons living
in the country, with every expectation that over 1,000,000 will be living here by the end..
of 1949. He denied reports that many perso ns were leaving Israel. As for the Arab
refugees who wish to return to their famili es in Israel', Mr. Shai said that a total of 600
applications asking the return of 1,700 persons had been filed with government bureaus
from Aug. 1 to 15. •
There is no deficit in the Israeli trade balance for the 11 months between July, 1948,
and June, 1949, David Horowitz, director-general of the Israeli Finance Ministry stated.
He revealed that while Israel imported $159,000,000 worth of products and exported
only $25,000,000 in goods, the difference was made up by the importation of foreign
capital. He listed the United States as Israel's chief supplier, with Britain second.
Mr. Horowitz also said that food imports accounted for 30 per cent of the total,
with manufactured items totaling 55 per cent and raw materials 14 per cent. , He stated
that only 50 per cent of the U. S. $100,000,000 loan has been allocated to date, and
expressed the hope that a total of two-thirds of the loan will be made available before
;). the end of the Israeli fiscal year, next April.
A
Jewish Legders Summoned -to Emergency
UJA Sessions in Washington Sept. 10-11
Jewish communal leaders have been summoned to attend an Emergency National Confer-
ence of the United Jewish Appeal, to be held in Washington, D. C., on Saturday evening, Sept.
10, and Sunday, Sept. 11, to consider the progress of the UJA's nationwide drive and to chart
a course of action for the balance of the year. The invitations to the conference, which will be
held at the .Statler Hotel in the nation's capital, were . issued by Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general
chairman of the United Jewish Appeal.
Emphasizing the importance of the emergency meeting, Mr. Morgenthau said that the men
and women who "have borne the brunt of the achievements of the past must gather to chart
the course for the future." He added that "none of us wishes the fate of the Jewish people to be
Quonsets for Israel:
Exterior and inter-
ior views of new type U. S.-made quonset houses, which Bnai
Brith is sending to Israel as an experiment in emergency hous-
ing. The first houses were shipped to the Bnai Brith Alfred M.
Cohen and Henry Monsky colonies. Each house, cream colored,
with green doors and windows, consists of four apartments,
providing modern American style facilities for four families,
complete to private bath with toilet and shower,. and private
kitchen for each family. The houses are insulated, ventilated,
screened, with complete electrical installation. Pictured top: a
corner of the dining alcove. Center: over-all view of the new
quonset house. Bottom view: of a typical living room. .
decided by default."
Citing the present situation in Israel, where 68,000 immigrants are housed in 'tents 'and
barracks because of the continuing lack . of funds to erect adequate housing, Mr. Morgenthau
said that "the American Jewish 'community is now at the crossroads of its world responsibility." .
"American Jews must now determine whether and to what degree they shall carry on
their historic work in revitalizing what is left of the Jewish people," Mr. Morgenthad stated. He
warned that there is "a grave danger that psychological and economic factors may distort our
vision of what still needs to be done. The massive accomplishments of recent years must not
be destroyed."
The general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, which provides the funds for the
reception and settlement of the immigrants arriving in Israel, said that "the Jewish communi-
ties of the United States are now in a position to look with some perspective on what is hap-
pening in the State of Israel and to judge for themselves what further responsibility they must
carry. We are also in a position to assay what has been done and what is still required to be
done on the European continent. There are also further aspects of emigration from Europe to the
United States to be considered."