USNA-H I AS
HE JEWISH NEWS
Merger:
Signal for Fusion
of Jewish Groups
A Weekly Review
on All Fronts
Commentary, Page 2
VOL. 24—No. 23
of Jewish Events
Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper—Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
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17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE. 8-9364—Detroit 35, February 12, 1954
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Israel's Demand for Sanctions on
Egypt Raises Issue of U.S. Race
With USSR for Favors of Arabs
Ferguson Reaffirms Support
of Aid to Near East; Move
In Congress Against Arms
Senator Homer Ferguson this week expressed a desire,
in a letter to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, to dis-
cuss with him the problem created by the proposal to arm
the Arab states. In his letter, Senator Ferguson, who has
consistently supported Israel and favored grants by this
country to the Jewish state, and who on previous occasions
has opposed the sending of arms to the Middle East, re-
affirmed his position on aid to the Near East, as follows:
• "Based on the special political, social and economic
factors in that area, our policy has up to now concen-
trated on providing economic assistance to all the peoples
of the area as a means of strengthening its defenses
against Communist infiltration and aggression.
"I have supported these programs of economic assist-
ance because I was convinced that disease, illiteracy and
hunger are enemies of freedom—a chief ally of subver-
sion—in this underdeveloped and largely depressed area.
"I intend to support such programs as I believe will
permit these people to aid themselves . . . to give the
peoples of this region_a stake in the defense of freedom."
Meanwhile, in Washington, 35 members of Congress—
six Senators and 29 Representatives (including John D.
Dingell of Michigan)—joined fn expressing "grave concern"
over proposals -Co send arms to the Arab states.
In reply to this memorandum, the State Department
said that there had been no discrimination against Israel
in the issuance of arms export licenses by the United States
and that the "volume of requests for such licenses for Israel
has greatly exceeded those of the Arab states, as have the
arms shipments from commercial sources."
The Department's statement noted that the U.S. arms
shipments policy had been laid down in the tripartite dec-
laration of May 25, 1950, at which time the U. S., Britain
and France "recognized that the Arab countries and Israel
all need to maintain a certain level of armed forces for the
purpose of insuring their internal security.
Knesset Gets Appeal
To Aid Communities
Of Druzes in Syria
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—A motion call-
ing for an urgent debate in the Israel
Parliament of the Syrian government's
military suppression of the Druze people
of that country was referred to the Knes-
set Foreign Affaiis Committee, with
the consent of deputy Sheik. Jaber of
Moadi, leader of the Israel Druze com-
munity, who offered the motion.
Premier Moshe Sharett expressed the
sympathy of his government for the
Druzes in Syria and concern for their
fate. (Reports from Damascus said that
Syrian army artillery had levelled three
of 12 Druze villages). He .counselled
caution in dealing with the problem in
the Knesset.
Sheik el Moadi, speaking for the 20,000
Israeli Druze, vehemently condemned
the military attacks on the villages of
his kinsmen in the Arab state. He pointed
out that the Druze community in Israel
had strong religious ties with the com-
munity in Syria. He declared that Israel
could not remain indifferent to the fate
of the Syrian Druze under dictator Adib
Shishakly and asked the Knesset to in-
vestigate the suppression of the Syrian
Druze community.
(Druze spokesmen in Detroit re-
frained from making statements on
the position of their kinsmen when
called by The Jewish News).
The Israel Cabinet approved relaxa-
tion of its military rule in areas in which
about half of the Arab population of
Israel dwells.
A military spokesman, explaining that
the action was due to an improvement
in the military situation in the northern
part of the country, estimated that 75,-
000 Arab citizens of Israel would benefi
directly from the far-reaching relaxa-
tions.._
In the remainder of the areas under
military rule the movement of Arab
citizens will be eased by quicker grant-
ing of permits, which are now good for
at least six months.
Libya Halts Postal, Telegraph
Communications With Israel
LONDON, (JTA)—All postal and tele-
graphic communications between Libya
and Israel have been halted, according
to reports from Tripoli.
U.S. Post Office Aids Israel
In Fight on Blackmarket
Brotherhood Week — Feb. 21-28
Getting together is an old American custom,
Time was when the town meeting brought folks to
talk together and many a vital issue was solved around
the country store cracker barrel and pot-bellied stove.
The National Conference of Christians and Jews sug-
gests good will home gatherings to start during Brother-
hood Week—with friends and neighbors coming together
to advance human understanding.
The greatness of America is in the rich variety of
its people.
During Brotherhood Week we take time to reassert
our belief in the values of our common humanity, and
ow uncommon individuality.
- One of the best ways we can each contribute to this
renewal of faith in the American way is by getting to-
gether with our friends and neighbors, and enjoy a fellow-
&hip that transcends race, creed or national origin.
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—The United
States Post Of f i c e Department an-
nounced that at the request o; the
Israel government it had banned from
mails directed to Israel, Israel bank-
notes, Israeli government bonds and
Israel Independence Bonds. The Israel
government has requested international
cooperation in this project which is
aimed at suppressing a blackmarket in
Israeli banknotes and securities.
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., (JTA)
United
States support of the Arab states' move to place an
Egyptian complaint against Israel and the Israel
complaint against Egyptian blockade of the Suez
Canal and Gulf of Eilath against Israel-bound
shipping on the same agenda at the United Na-
tions Security Council, has raised the question
whether the United States has entered a race with
the Soviet Union for the favor of the Arab states.
The French and British delegates opposed the
move, asking that the Egyptian complaint be han-
dled in routine fashion as a separate item to be
discussed in its turn.
The Soviet and Nationalist Chinese delegates backed
the Arab demand for simultaneous debate and the
United States offered a "compromise"—lumping of the
two complaints in one item, but discussing them sepa-
rately. When Lebanon withdrew its own proposal in
favor of the American, the latter was adopted without
dissent.
In a carefully documented statement, Mr. Eban out-
lined the entire history of the Israeli complaint against
the blockade of the Suez Canal, refuting the Egyptian
assertion that a state of war exists between the two
states, justifying maintenance of blockade measures.
After describing Egyptian actions in the Suez Canal and
at the Gulf of Eilath, the Israeli diplomat denounced
the Egyptian government for having "acted like a high-
way robber at a narrow crossroads, dictating its will to
those who pass to and fro."
(Detailed Stories on Page 20)
British Concerned over U,S. Action
.
London, (JTA) — The British Foreign Office
is deeply concerned over the United States move
in proposing that the Egyptian counter-complaint
against Israel and Israel's complaint against the
Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal be made part
of the same agenda item at the UN.
Britain, it was pointed out, would have liked
to see a complete airing of the Suez Canal question
—if only because the matter had not been handled
during the direct Anglo-Egyptian talks, for fear of
further complicating them.
Jordan's Rejection of Israel's
Call for Peace Again on.Agenda
Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News
UNITED NATIONS—Ambassador Abba Eban of Israel
has received a copy of Jordan's communication to United
Nations Secretary General Dag H. Hammarskjold in
response to his request that the Jordan government
attend a meeting called by Israel under terms of the
armistice agreement, an Israel delegation spokesman
announced here Tuesday.
The spokesman revealed that Mr. Eban was scheduled
to confer with Mr. Hammarskjold, Thursday, after con-
sulting with the Israel government. The spokesman
would not comment on details of Jordan's reply.
In UN circles it is known that Jordan rejected the
call to the direct meeting demanded by Israel under
Article XII of the armistice pact. This is the second
time Jordan replied in the negative despite the position
taken by Israel and the UN Secretary General that call
for such a meeting by one party makes attendance
obligatory upon both parties. Article XII provides for
discussion of changes of the armistice agreement itself,
The Jordanians insist that any dispute can be settled
through the Mixed Armistice Commission.
It was learned here that Israel delegate Abba Eban
met with Soviet delegate Andrei Vishinsky late last week
to discuss the Israeli complaint to the Security Council
against Egypt's blockade of Israel-bound goods in the
Suez Canal and the Gulf of Eilath.
Community Invited to Jerusalem Celebration
The Detroit Committee for the Celebration of the 3,000th Anniversary of the City of
Jerusalem has issued a call to all Detroit Jews to join in the observance of this historic event,
at the Masonic Auditorium, Sunday evening. The purchase of an Israel bond will be the
admission fee to this event, which will be featured by an array of noteworthy personalities.
This event will be the concluding function in the campaign for the Israel Independence Bond
Issue and will serve to introduce the new Isra el Development Bond Issue. The new bond is-
sue will mark two major changes in Israel's quest for financial assistance from foreign coun-
tries: Introduction of the sale of bonds in European and Latin American countries and
continuation of bond sales in this country o n a permanent basis.
Detailed program , iet Sunday's 3,000th Jerusalem celebration in Story on Page Z is*/
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