Reluctant
American Jewish
Leadership:
Need for New
Spiritual Forces
Editorial, Page 4
T E JEWISH NEWS
A Weekly Review
of Jewish Events
Handful of Jews
`E Pluribus 300'
Hebrew as College
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and Jewry's Duties
Michigan's Only English Jewish Newspaper—I ncorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Commentary, Page 2
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VOLUME 24—No. 14
$4.00 Per Year: Single Copy, 15c
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE. 8-9364—Detroit 35, Mich., December 11, 1953
bligation to Make estitution
To Jews Is Denied by Austrians
Strong Efforts in Direction, of Middle-Eastern Amity
Truman, Eban, Zionist Assembly
Plead for Arab-Israel Peace
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
NEW YORK—From non-Jewish quarters came strong calls for direct peace talks
between Israel and the Arab states, within a period of four days.
Dr. Nahum* Goldmann, speaking at the First American Zionist Assembly, which was con-
vened for the purpose of reinforcing the American Zionist Council, called upon the Western
Powers and more especially the United States to effect peace agreements between Israel and
the Arab nations. He addressed the Saturday night session of the Zionist Assembly, at the
Roosevelt Hotel.
Three days earlier, at the decennial dinner of the American Committee of the Weizniann In-
stitute of Science, at the Waldorf Astoria, former President Harry S. Truman and Ambassador
Abba Eban made similar calls for Arab-Jewish peace. Mr. Truman, in the course of his ad-
dress, made one of the most important contributions to the cause of truth and in establishing
facts in relation to American policy by affirming that the establishment of Israel was "not an
act of favoritism" on the part of the United States but was rooted in bi-partisan American
foreign
In line with the peace offensive for the Middle East inaugurated in Jewish ranks, the
Assembly adopted a resolution that severely criticizes the anti-Israel forces in the State
Department. While recording with gratitude the friendly American attitude toward Israel
and the generous grants-in-aid and technical assistance, the Assembly expressed concern
that the traditional American-Israel friendship is "being undermined by maneuvers of old
enemies." Thb resolution charges that certain State. Department actions "have encouraged
powerful anti-Israel forces ... in an effort to make it appear that a major change in our
country's policy towards Israel has in fact taken place." The Assembly rejected the implica-
tion that has been given under the guise of impartiality that the present administration's
"policy represents a change and that our country has not been impartial in the past." Ap-
peasing impartliality is repudiate 1 and the plea is sounded that—
"Not alone for the sake of Israel, the world's newest democracy, now threatened on all
fronts, but even more for the sake of our country's role as the world leader of dynamic de-
mocracy, we most earnestly urge our government to reaffirm the traditional American bi-
partisan policy toward Israel and help bring to the strategic area of the Middle East stabil-
ity and peace."
In his historic address, Mr. Truman showed how this country had helped create Arab
states and to assure independence for them and how our Government aided Israel in accord-
ance with such a policy begun by President Wilson. He declared:
"As Americans, we look at Israel not only as a newborn and friendly democracy, but
also as part of the whole Middle East. Our country has had a long and sympathetic inter-
est in the peoples of that area. Our interest there antedates the creation of modern Israel.
"Not only as a government, but as a people, we have long shown our sympathy for and
our desire to help the peoples of the Middle East. Before the Ottoman Empire fell, Ameri-
can missionaries and American educators had established colleges and universities in those
countries—in Egypt, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Turkey. These institutions of learning helped
to revitalize Arab culture. Many of the leaders in the movement toward Arab nationalism
were educated in American schools.
"When the Ottoman Empire broke up, of ter World War I President Wilson's Fourteen
Points opened the way to the Arab leaders to create new and independent nations in the
area. President Wilson even sent a fact-finding mission to the Middle East, which helped to
lay the ground-work for the future independence of the Arab nations. Our friendly inter-
est did not cease during the period between the two wars, and after World War II, we used
our influence to achieve complete independence for Syria and Lebanon. Through the United
Nations, we supported the creation of the newest Arab state, that of Libya.
"Our interest in the creation of an independent state for the Jewish people in the Mid-
dle East was consistent with the policies we had been following with respect to the other
peoples in the area. It was not just an act of favoritism. The United States, by a resolu-
tion of Congress in 1922, supported the establishment of an independent Jewish homeland.
Twenty-five years later, we sponsored the recommendations of the United Nations Commis-
sion which led to the establishment of the State of Israel. We hoped for a peaceful launch-
ing of the new state under the protection of the United Nations. We did not anticipate the
outbreak of hostilities in Palestine. And we are proud of the great services rendered in
bringing about an armistice by one of our most distinguished Americans, who is here to-
night, Dr. Ralph Bunche.
"It is important to recall all these facts at the present time. In the heat of present
controversies it is easy to lose sight of the larger perspective—of the whole of which Israel
is a part. It is easy to forget that our country has consistently encouraged the right of the
peoples of the Middle East to national independence and self-government. It is easy to
overlook the fact that we have helped and continue to help these countries with education
and technical assistance.
"But these are the facts. And as we have an interest in this area of the world—an in-
terest in seeing these people achieve self-government and independence and economic and
social progress
so we have a responsibility.
"We have the responsibility of nromoting peace between these new nations."
- In this fashion, the former President proceeded to indicate how the U. S. pro-Israel policy
had developed as a bi-partisan concern. He continued:
"Our interest in Israel, our friendship for Israel, is the product of a bi-partisan foreign
policy. I believe that the first American President to approve the idea of an independent
Jewish state in Palestine was a man by the name of John Adams, who was the second Pres-
ident of the United States.
"American diplomats, including Secretary of State John Hay, encouragee. the early
Jewish settlers in Palestine in the late 19th century. The first bill for aid to Israel had
bi-partisan sponsorship, including the late Senator Taft. American support for Israel's in-
dependence today is the support of our whole people, and not the support of one or the
other of our great political parties.
"On this firm foundation of the past, I -am sure we can follow a united national policy
that will bring about a happy future for all concerned.
"For it is clear that we must have a united policy and work for a settlement of the
present international difficulties in the Middle East. The present tension between Israel
—
Continued on Page 24
VIENNA, (JTA)—Austria has denied that it owes an
obligation to pay restitution to Jews.
When the question of Jewish claims for compensation
and restitution for damages suffered under the Nazis was
raised in the Austrian Parliament by Social Democratic
deputies, Chancellor Julius Raab, who replied for the gov-
ernment, said that during the negotiations with representa-
tives of the world Jewish organizations the Austrians had
made it clear that there were victims other than the Jews
who were claiming compensation. He added that laws which
provided for compensation to the Jews would in effect not
grant equal treatment to all the victims of the Nazi regime
which, he insisted, was a violation of the principles of the
Austrian constitution.
The Chancellor declared that the negotiations had served
chiefly to clarify what the demands of the Jewish groups were,
and whether they were justified.
In subsequent debate, Finance Minister Reinhardt Kamitz
asserted that Austrians had not entered into negotiations with
representatives of world Jewish organizations on Jewish claims
for damages wrought by the Nazi regime because it was under
any "obligation" to make restitution or pay reparations.
The Finance Minister told Parliament that the Austrian
government does not consider Austria responsible for the suf-
fering of Austrian Jewry during the Nazi regime. He insisted
that full responsibility rested with Germany.
Reviewing the course of negotiations, Dr. Kamitz said that
the Jewish negotiators had first put forward a demand for 1,500,-
000,000 schillings, which they termed a "moral obligation on the
Austrian government." At a later date, Dr. Kamitz reported, the
Jewish delegation estimated losses of Jews in Austria during the
Nazi regime at some 30,009,000 schillings. He insisted that during
the negotiations the Jewish representatives had failed to give
"due consideration" to Austria's "special situation."
negotiations last September, the
In the final stage,
Finance Minister said, te Jewish negotiators had reduced their
demands to a lump sum payment of 300,000,000 schillings
(512,000,000) for heirless Jewish property. This demand was
reiterated in a message from Dr. Nahum Goldmann in October
after Chancellor Raab had requested him to present new pro-
posals for resumption of the Austro-Jewish talks, Dr. Kamitz
said.
During the course of the negotiations, he revealed, the Aus-
trian government had received protests from the Arab states
against a settlement of the Jewish claims similar to the one
arrived at by Bonn. In addition, he asserted, various Austrian
and foreign organizations had informed the government that
they did not recognize the Jewish negotiators in Vienna as their
representatives.
The Socialist newspaper Arbeiterzeitung, commenting on Dr.
Kamitz' statements, declared that they "do not conform with
the declaration delivered by the (Austrian) government repre-
sentatives earlier in the negotiations."
Jewish communal leaders here hit out at the Austrian gov-
ernment for having broken off talks for restitution, and called
on the Austrian government to resume negotiations.
The community newspaper "Neue Welt" charged that the
government held the view that the Jews should "beg humbly" for
the resumption of the talks.
.
B-G Submits Resignation
Cabinet Grants Him 'Vacation
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — David Ben-Gurion submitted
his resignation as Premier to President Ben Zvi on Monday.
The Cabinet granted Mr. Ben-Gurion an indefinite
vacation starting Tuesday. Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett,
the Mapai Party's choice to succeeed Mr. Ben-Gurion as
Premier, has been named Acting Premier. Pinchas Lavon,
Minister without portfolio, has been named Acting Defense
Minister.
Dr. Peretz Naphtali, another Minister without portfolio
in the present government, has been named Acting Finance
Minister while Levi Eshkol is in the United States. Mr.
Eshkol left for the U. S. where he will remain for 10 days
to raise funds to cover Israel's short term obligations • and
will confer with United Jewish Appeal and bond organiza-
tion leaders. He will not meet with any U.S. Government
leaders.
Meanwhile, the General Zionists agreed to renew nego-
tiations with the Mapai for a new coalition Cabinet. The
talks were broken off last week, The Mapai-Mapam talks
seem to be getting nowhere.
In a 20-minute ceremony in the Premier's office, Mr.
Ben-Gurion invested Brig. Moshe Dayan with the symbols
of his new office—Chief of Staff of the Israel Aramy of
Defense. Accepting the letter of resignation from Gen.
Mordecai Makleff, Mr. Ben-Gurion warmly embraced his
retiring aide. He then turned and handed the commission
and flag of the Chief of Staff to Gen. Dayan, who thus be-
came the fourth Chief of Staff in Israel's five-and-a-half
year history.
Ben-,-Gurion!s Farewell Message on Page 24