Purely Commentary By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Mrs. FDR Demolishes the Arab Arguments 2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, August 28, 1953 Detroit Soldier Edits Camp Paper Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt's recent tour of the Near East, her visits in Jordan, Israel, India, Pakistan and Syria are described in a fashion especially worthy of Eleanor Roosevelt. Under the title "India and the Awakening East," her travelogue (published by Harper), not only is a very personal account of a great experience but is • an excellent description of the "problems and hopes of peoples now coming of age." Especially meritorious is her report on the Arab refugees, the Arab com, plaints against Israel, and her descrip- tion of Israel as "A Dedicated Land." The Arabs won't _like her book. She has seen through the unreasonableness of their arguments and has demolished them with skill, at no time abandoning her sympathy for homeless Arabs who • fled Israel without cause. Mrs. Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt pays honor to a great American school, the American University at Beirut, and its present president, Dr. S. B. L. Penrose. The Beirut group entertained her and related tales against Israel. Their argument, to quote Mrs. Roosevelt: "What the Arabs had urged was independence for Palestine as a whole, with the Jews to be a protected minority." Throughout her report, Mrs. Roosevelt speaks with the utmost respect of Dr. Penrose and his associates. But she speaks her mind to indicate wherein they are wrong. Pfc. MAYNARD M. GORDON (right) receives the tools of the trade from Sgt. BOB NEWCOM- ER, former editor, as he prepares to assume the editorship of the Mrs. Roosevelt reveals anew, in her interesting book, that the Camp Gordon Rambler, base Arab aim not only was but still is to freeze Jews to a permanent newspaper. * * protected minority. We know what that means: that Jews, had they not proclaimed their own independence, had they not fought for self-liberation, would have been doomed to a status of per- petuated danger, of constantly being subjected to attacks, of the undignified position of always having to plead for simple rights. But Mrs. Roosevelt does not permit this offer of a "protected minority" to pass by. She declares: "Remembering the Arab-Jewish riots in Jerusalem in 199, one may question the soundness of this argument." *• * * Israel and the Arab Refugees Mrs. FDR, having listened to Arab arguments against Israel for several years, as a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations, can't be fooled easily. To offset their fears that Jews will want more territory, Mrs. Roosevelt writes: "I tried to make them understand that their surest defense was in a strong United Nations that opposed aggression everywhere; but I am afraid that I was not success- ful in allaying their fear." "Paradoxically," she writes, "they will sometimes tell you that the Arabs have long memories and someday will drive the people of Israel into the sea—a claim not altogether consistent with their expressed fear of Israeli aggression." Thus it has always been; double-talk of an offer of minority protection and the threat of being driven into the sea. In her objective analysis of the tragedy of the Arab refugee, Mrs. Roosevelt shows how little is being done by the Arab states to help them and what serious planning is being done for them by the United - Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. And then she makes this statemeAt which corroborates Israel's claims that the Arabs left the Jewish state under com- pulsion from their leaders: "I could not help wondering whether in all instances this precipitate flight from Palestine was absolutely necessary. Of course, as in all wars, atrocities are perpetrated by both sides, and certainly the Arabs were told stories and shown pictures of cruelties committeed during the fighting between Israeli and Arab forces. In one case the entire population of a Moslem town was massacred one night; and I was told during a United Nations meeting of another place where innocent people were killed and thrown down a well. "One cannot be surprised that such things happened, nor can one blame people that fled, for they were obviously driven by a great fear; also there is no doubt that they expected to return shortly with the victorious Arab armies. But one is sur- prised that they would leave places that were fairly safe, unless from panic and hysteria spread through authoritative channels. And it is a fact that some of the villages that were evacuated were not threatened at all or even in the path of the fighting. It is also a fact that some 170,000 Moslems are still living peace- fully and unharmed in Israel. The truth is that the Arab auth- orities are to a large extent responsible for this wholesale flight. Mass evacuation was apparently a part of their strategy. They urged the people to leave, assuring them of the quick success of the Arab armies. Then, they were promised, not only would they get back their own land but would share in the spoils won from the Israelis. Arab responsibility for the present situation must be shared, it seems to me, by the British, who furnished the refugees with transportation," * * The Past Must Be Forgotten': Plea for Peace Israel and the Arabs need each other, "The past must be forgotten and the future must be made possible by the inter- national community," Mrs. Roosevelt pleads, while urging that the refugee problem be solved through logical agreements. Peace would help both sides, America's great lady states, and she concludes her observations of "The Arab Side" thus: "Instead the Arabs still talk hopefully of wiping out the people of Israel. I have a feeling that this would not be easy. Even if it were possible, such a war would be a grievous thing. The immediate suffering it would cause is obvious. But I am thinking also of the fact that although the Arabs would gain some land, perhaps, and the refugees could return to what homes they have left, they would not put into the country the hard and intelligent work that the Jews have. And unless they did, all development would stop; the land would deteriorate, barren plains and dry deserts would appear where tree-planted fields and productive farms now flourish. The loss would be not only to the people of Israel, but to the future development of the entire Middle East." Would that the reasonable people in the Middle East could force their leaders to strive for a logical solution of the war- menacing problem, based on Eleanor Roosevelt's realistic warn- ing! Her chapter "Israel: A Dedicated Land" proves that Israel is a vital factor in developing the entire Middle East. The great value of her book, with its impressive chapters on India and Pakistan, is her expose of fallacies inherent in the anti-Israel campaign and her appeals for peace. May her plea fall on listening ears! New editor of the Camp Gor- don Rambler, Camp Gordon, Ga., is a young man with a name appropriate for the job—Gor- don. He is Pfc. Maynard M. Gordon, of Detroit, Mich., son of Mr. and Mrs. Max M. Gordon, of 19964 Vaughn. Gordon has been in service since Sept. 25, 1952. He formerly was senior associate editor of, the Detroit Automotive News, a trade paper. A graduate of Central High School in June, 1944, Gordon at- tended Wayne University and was speaker of the Philomathic Debating Club. He is married to the former Lucille Mandel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Mandel, of 12722 Santa Rosa. The Gordons, who are mem- bers of the Young Men's Hebrew Association in Augusta, Ga., nea • the camp, live at 2412 Norton Dr., Augusta. Stiff Sentences Given 13 Israel. Extremists Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News TEL AVIV—Seritences ranging from one to 12 years' imprison- ment were meted out Tuesday to 13 members of an illegal under- ground organization convicted by a military court at the Sara- fand Army Base of membership in and participating in the ac- tivities of a terrorist organiza- tion. The three-man court gave the stiffest sentence of 12 years to Shinaon Bachar, who escaped . from jail during the trial and is still at large. He and Yaacov Heruti, who received a 10-year sentence and Yaakov Blumen- thal were all convicted of three charges involving membership and activity in the underground unit. Zeev Badian and Miss Yaffa Dromi, his fiancee, were given four year terms. Miss Dromi was an announcer on the underground Sternist radio be- fore the State of Israel was es- tablished. Yeheckel Mizrachi received a five-year sentence while two 16- year-old girls, Zila Mogori Co- hen and Malka Paposhdo, were given one-year terms. The re- mainder received terms ranging between one and • three years, with Yefet Taizi and Yehosho- fat Givon, who confessed to an abortive attempt to set fire to the car of the Czech Minister in Israel receiving two year sen- tences. When sentencing was conclud- ed, the defendents rose to their feet and sang "Hatikvah." The sentences are subject to appro- val by Premier David Ben-Guri- on in his capacity of Defense Minister. ir • ft... e-.41 Internationalization of Jerusalem Is Impossible, Stevenson Declares Adlai Stevenson opposes inter- nationalization of Jerusalem. He made this statement to David Horowitz, of the World Union Press, upon his return to the United States after touring the globe. Supporters of 'Israel were con- cserned over Stevenson's attitude toward the internationization of Jerusalem since the 1952 Demo- cratic presidential candidate wrote in the August 11 issue of Look Magazine: "It is hard to see how a city divided against itself can stand, let alone flour- ish; and certainly all faiths are concerned." Many Jews were puzzled by this statement, oth- ers disappointed. But Stevenson removed all doubts about his views on Israel as he revealed a position quite opposed to that of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles who favors internationalization of the holy city. His attitude on the problem coincided closely with that of "the Israeli govern- ment. "Internationalization of Jeru- salem in the face of the present realities," he declared, "was im- possible. Negotiations must pro- ceed from and be based upon the present situation." He en- visaged an "international corn- mission to supervise the holy places." (This has also been the hope of Israel). Explaining that "the city cannot remain split," he advised the formation of a special Israel-Jordan com- mission to take up the inter- city problems in what may be- come "the most intricate city government the world has ever known." He made it clear that the question of Jerusalem concerns primarily the two nations in-. volved, and these two must work out some plan of coordination. "No one man's opinion on the internationalization of Jerusa- lem is important," he added. Reporter Horowitz also inter- viewed Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky, and asked him: "In view of the recent es tablishment of diplomatic rela- tions between your country and Israel, would the Soviet Union consider at this time the emi- gration of Soviet Jews to Is- rael?" Vishinsky replied: "This is an artificial • matter warranting consideration." Although puzzled by the Soviet official's reply, Horowitz felt that with the word "artificial" he may have meant that the reestablishment of re- lations with Israel is a matter quite apart from the question of emigration of Jews from Russia. But, writes Horowitz, "his re- ply seemed to hint that the door might be open for further dis- cussion on this delicate matter." Future of ZOA, Problems of Israel Head Parley Talk's Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News NEW YORK — The 56th an- nual convention of the Zionist Organization of America opened its five-day sessions Wednesday, in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here to discuss and act upon burning issues involving the fu- ture of the Zionist movement and the problems confronting Israel today. Among the issues to be con- sidered will be American foreign policy on Israel and the Middle East relationship between world Jewry and Israel, the future tasks a n d structure of the World Zionist Organization and an expanded program of eco- nomic aid to Israel. The convention deliberations will cover the entire range of Zionist activities in this country, the role of the ZOA on the American scene and in Israel with emphasis on the structural and organizational pr o b 1 ems which must be solved in order to increase the ZOA's scope and effectiveness. Uncover Fourth Century Inscriptions in Israel TEL AVIV, (JTA) — Im- portant inscriptions d a ting back to the fourth and fifth centuries C. E. have been dis- covered in Beth Shearim, in the Emek Jezreel. President Itzhak Ben- Zvi and Hebrew University experts have pro- ceeded to the site to inspect the inscriptions, unearthed by the Israel Exploration So- ciety. . Between You and Me By BORIS SMOLAR (Copyright, 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency) Inside Israel The question of the exchange rate between Israel bonds sold in the United States and the Israel pound is now being seriously considered by the Israel Cabinet When the bonds were sold, the exchange rate of the pound in American dollars was quite dif- ferent from what it is today , „ At that time the Israel pound was worth $2.80, while now the official rate of the Israel pound . This is beneficial for those who is about 50 American cents especially for those who wish to have acquired Israel bonds cash them in Israel—but not so beneficial to the Israel Treasury • . The Israel government is also devoting particular attention to the question of the bonds which are now becoming "bearer bonds" and can be presented for cashing ... The original three-year period of the Israel Bond drive ends in May, 1954, but it seems certain that the drive will be continued and that it will be marked by new features ... A special ministerial committee is now engaged in Is- rael in the preparation of plans to solve all problems in connec- tion with the drive in the United States ...It is expected that soon after High Holidays leaders of the Israel Bond Drive in this cotintry will be summoned to Jerusalem to get acquainted with these plans • So will the leaders of the United JeWish Appeal. Washington Moods The State Department has indicated its willingness to-permit Israel to use a part of the 1953-54 grant-in-aid to repay short- term debts of Israel in the United States ... This despite the fact that only recently the State Department refused to agree to a long-term loan of $75,000,000 by the Export-Import Bank to Israel to consolidate - the short-term indebtedness of the Jewish State in this country ...That refusal was made, it is believed, because of economic and not political considerations ... It can now be revealed that the adverse decision came after several months of careful consideration by interested American government agencies ... The State Department, Treasury, Mutual Security Adminis- tration and Export -Import Bank have ruled that funds for converting short-term into long-term debts in this country .' However, the State Department, while rejecting the refunding loan scheme, told Israel that it might consider allowing part of Amen- can grant-in-aid funds for Israel to be used for liquidating exist- ing debts.... The money. used for this purpose would, of course, be deducted from American Mutual Security funds now allocated for specific develOpment projects in Israel ...Incidentally, the idea of permitting the use of grant-in-aid funds to cover short-term debts is not new...This has already 'been done in the past on suern totalling tens of millions of dollars.