PurelyBy ommentary President Eisenhower Personally

Approves Ban on Arms to Israel

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Mrs. Millin's Expose of Jan C. Smuts

It would generally be considered heresy to question General
Jan Christian Smuts' sincerity in his relation to Jewry and to
Israel. He was a strong defender of the Balfour Declaration and
was a member of the British War Cabinet that
issued it. He pleaded in behalf of Zionism on
scores of occasions. A colony—Kfar Yochanan,
now one of the most_ interesting Israeli settle-
ments—was established in - his - honor.
Nevertheless, in San Francisco, in 1945,
when the foundation was laid for what was
then referred to as UNO—the United Nations
Organization—Jan Christian Smuts disillusioned
us. This Commentator. was present, together
with a surprisingly small group of his fellow-
accredited correspondents at a press confer-
ence at which General Smuts was to make
known certain decisions of the Big Powers.
We had expected a large session, but General Jan C. Smuts
Smuts was not the drawing card of a Vandenberg or a
Molotov.

In any event, one of the Jewish newsmen popped a question
relating to Palestine. _We knew the South. African leader to
be a friend - of the Zionist cause and we expected a friendly
nod. • Instead, he was abrupt; He snapped at us: "This is not
the time to discuss this question," 'and placing his red-trimmed
cap on his handsome head - and, lifting his cane, he walked out
on us. It was 'a - great disappointment..

We sensed occasional disappointment in him in Sarah Ger-
trude Millin's "The Measure of My Days" (published by Abelard-
Schuman, 404 Fourth, NY 16). Mrs. -Millin was General Smuts'
biographer. She helped to popularize him in the entire English-
speaking world. She adored the man. But he let the Millins
down. Her late husband, Justice Philip Millin, Was in line for
many years for a judgeship, but Smuts skipped his name time
and again—and the suspicion lurked in the minds of the Millins
that perhaps their friend hesitated because Mrs. Millin was his
biographer, because it -might have been interpreted as a pay-off.
Whereas, lesser friends knew that Philip Millin was the out-
standing candidate that eventually went to him.

In the early stages of Philip Millin's having been passed
over in the judgeship selection, the ignored Jewish leader
said: "I hear that other ministers object to me on the grounds
of negrophilism; but I also hear that my being a Jew has to
do with it. Still, things aren't as bad as in Germany, are they?"

Later, again ignored by Smuts, Mrs. Millin wrote about
her husband that "there was only one reason why Phil, at the
peak of his- prOfession and already passed over three times,
should now be passed over again. Negrophilism had nothing to
do with it this time, for, if there was a passionate negrophilist,
it was Oliver (who did get the appointment). The one reason
why Smuts now passed Phil over was the country's feeling
against Jews."

,

Doesn't this indicate that there was a lack of courage
in the man, who was considered one of the world's most
courageous statesman? It is no wonder that Jan Hofmyer, a
member of the South African government, should have written
to Mrs. Millin: "I knew nothing of the judicial appointments
till they had already been made . . . When things got back to
normal I spoke to Smuts, but the only result was to show me
how weak he had been in this matter of lying down to anti-
Semitism. I do really feel ashamed of the GoVernment of
which I am a member."

If what we say is heresy, we call Hofmeyer to witness in
behalf of the judgment we passed upon Smuts in San Francisco!
"The Measure of My Days" is a tribute to Mrs.
husband. It is an expression of great devotion to a man she
loved, to one whose memory she does not forget for a moment.
She took the title for her book from the 23rd Psalm, "Lord,
make me to know mine end and the measure of my days, what
it is that I may know how frail I am."
It is remarkable valedictory and it is a memoir of an
interesting and a devoted life.
And in treating the Smuts theme, Mrs. Millin reviews his
interest in Zionism and gives him due credit for the exertions
he showed in behalf of the struggling movement.
Then there are many pages of recollections of friendship
with the Weizmanns, her visit in Israel, her disappointment as
well as her great thrills at what Israel has achieved.
She speaks with special warmth about David Ben-Gurion and
tells how he gave priority to chats with her.
In "The Measure of My Days" the brilliant South African
novelist incorporates her innermost thoughts. As in the case of
her good friend Jan C. Smuts, she hides nothing, writes frankly,
defends no one and does not unduly criticize anyone. It is plain
thinking and—good writing.

The Libels Against Israel
It is so easy to libel Israel!

A shocking rumor was spread last week that Israelis were
massing for an attack on Jordan. It didn't take long to disprove
the falsehood, but in-the meantime Israel again was placed under
suspicion among unsuspecting peoples.
It is like the untruth about the mistreatment of minorities—
Moslem and Christian—in Israel. The editor of the Buenos Aires
Catholic newspaper Criterio was in Israel last month. He ap-
peared on the Kol Israel radio and made the statement that he
had not met a single clergyman, monk or nun who had expressed
dissatisfaction with Israel's treatment. Then he added: "I firmly
believe that Jews and Christians can live in perfect unity. It is
up to us to find a perfect bond of brotherhood, for we are all
children of Almighty God. Israel is in my view a victory of the
spirit over matter."
If more people were to go to Israel, they'd learn similar
truths. But it'll take a lot of clarifying to overcome the damage
done by the spread of lies in the Arab attempt to destroy Israel.

WASHINGTON, (JTA) — Of-
ficial sources revealed that
President Eisenhower personally
decided against approval of the
arms list submitted by Israel.
They said that this decision,_
originally recommended by Sec-
retary of State John Foster
Dulles, has been incorporated
into basic policy by Mr. Dulles.
State Department sources
said the United States has no
intention of selling military
jet planes to Israel regardless
of whether other nations halt
their shipments to Israel. They
indicated that the State De-
partment now accepts the .
premise that the real purpose
of Israel's application for
arms was not so much to ob-
tain weapons but to "force"
an action by the United States
in support of Israel.
In the view of some State De-
partment - experts, Israel sought

arms here as a means of com-
plicating Arab - American rela-
tions at a time when the Soviet
Union sought to link America
with Israel.
The State Department is tak-
ing the position that it is not in
America's security interest to be
more closely identified with Is-
rael. Such identification, it was
said here, might further propel
the Moslem world toward Mos-
cow. The whole policy and con-
cept of "impartiality" was con-
ceived as a means of avoiding
this "Communist trap," accord-
ing to authorities here.
The views of the State De-
partment were made known
just after France and Canada
had announced they would halt
shipments of jets to Israel until
'the United States agrees to par-
ticipate in such sales and thus
share responsibility. France has
sold 24 Mysteres to Israel. But

Canada has not yet released
any of the Sabre jets under
order.
Israel circles here charged
the United States with caus-
ing an imbalance of arms be-
tween Israel and the Arab
countries by refusing to share
responsibility with other
We-Stern powers. This view
will be communicated to Sec-
retary Dulles by Israel Am-
bassador Abba Eban.
The Israelis hold that any oral
restraint exercised by Soviet
Foreign Minister Shepilov, in
connection with Israel, on his
recent visit to the Arab coun-
tries does not compensate for
the lack of restraint exhibited
in the heavy Communist arms
shipments to the Arabs. A feel-
ing is held among Israelis that
the State Department should
note Egyptian President Nas-
ser's new warlike expressions.

Ben-Gurion Reports on U.S.-Israel Relations

JERUSALEM (JTA)—A re-
port on. American-Israel rela-
tions, in the light of talks held
with United States Ambassador
Edward B. Lawson; was made
to the Israel Cabinet by Pre-
mier David Ben-Gurion and
Foreign Minister Golda Myer-
son.
The U.S. Ambassador met
with the two top Israeli leaders
Friday afternoon at the request
of Washington. The meeting
reportedly dealt with the cur-
rent border situation and the
false war scare raised by the
Arab states. It is learned that
the American envoy was assured
that there was no truth in the
Arab report that Israel was
massing troops along the Jordan
frontier.
Speaking at a dinner in Tel
Aviv, Ambassador Lawson said
that current disagreements be-
tween the United States and
Israel would be solved soon and
the two countries would then
achieve their common goal of
peace in the Middle East. The
dinner was arranged by the Is-
rael-American Friendship
League. The Ambassador was

Keidan Re-Elected
Center President

greeted on behalf of the Israel
government by Pinhas Rosen,
Israel's Minister of Justice, who
conveyed the wishes of the Is-
raeli people for the continued
well-being of President Eisen-
hower.
The Israeli Cabinet also heard
a report from Israel's Ambassa-
dor - in France, Yaacov Tzur.
The report dealt primarily with
Mr. Tzur's recent talks in Paris
with French government lead-
ers in connection with Israel's
request for arms from the Wes-
tern Powers.

r

Soviet Ambassador Alexander
Abramov visited the Youth
Aliyah village of Alonei Yitz-
hak, marking the first time that
a Soviet diplomat in Israel has
visited such an installation. Am-
bassador Abramov praised the
achievements of the Youth Ali-
yah in rescuing children and
in giving them a "constructive
education." The Ambassador, ac-
companied by his wife and chil-
dren, dined with residents of
the children's village and later
watched them perform choral
and dramatic works.

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Boris Smolar's

'Between You
... and Me'

1

(Copyright 1956,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

Washington Moods:

The Arab-Israel issue is again coming to the forefront in
Washington. The State Department policy of letting events take
their course is being increasingly criticized by those who see
Moscow making dramatic gains in the Middle East. It is realized
that the present U. S. policy of appeasing the Arabs so far has
led nowhere. If anything, it contributed to the, fact that Moscow
is at the moment moving into the position of chief guide of the
Arab countries. The State Department, in desperation, has been
seeking advice and counsel from its Middle East embassies, al-
though it still chiefly follows the advice of Henry A. Byroade,
U. S. Ambassador to Cairo. This despite the fact that Mr. By-
roade, with his pro-Arab views, has paved the way for a calamity
for U. S. interests in the Middle East, by enabling Russia to gain
unprecedented friendship with Egypt and other Arab countries.
Some United States officials put their trust in the alleged anti-
Communist forces of the Arab world. They also believe that
Moscow will "overdo" itself and expose its imperialistic aims
before long. They suggest that Communist suppression of the
riots in Poznan, Poland, will cause Egyptians to think twice
about linking their future to- Moscow. Others believe that now
is the time for the United States to come forward with some kind
of a bold dramatic program for the Middle East. They are of the
opinion that the State Department is making a serious mistake in
preventing Israel from securing defensive arms in the United
States.

Jacob L. Keidan was re-
elected president of the Jewish
Community Center at the an-
u a 1 election
meeting of the
board of direc-
tors. Other of-
ficers n a med
were George D.
K e i 1, Samuel
Frankel, M r s.
Benjamin E.
Jaffe and Harry
L. Jones, vice-
prseidents;
J. L. Keidan Paul Tilds,
secretary, and Merwin K. Gros-
berg, treasurer.
Elected as members-at-large United Nations,Moods:
to the executive committee were
United Nations officials are exceedingly reserved in their
Nathan Silverman and Dr. Ben- comment about the outcome of the brief visit which UN Secre-
jamin B. Stamell.
tary General Dag Hammarskjold paid to Moscow. It is an open
secret in UN circles that one of the main purposes of Mr. Ham-
Claims Committee Grants marskjold's trip to Moscow was to discuss the Arab-Israel prob-
$135,000 in-Scholarships lem with top Soviet leaders. It is known that on the outcome of
NEW YORK, (JTA)—Schol- his talks in Moscow will depend Mr. Hammarskjold's decision on
arships and fellowships in the whether or not to make another trip to the Middle East before
amount of $135,000 have been the end of this summer. In the circumstances, Mr. Hammarsk-
granted for the academic year jold's visit to Moscow is of great significance, especially since
1956-57 to 194 Jewish students he arrived there after the return of Soviet Foreign Minister
and intellectuals throughout the Dmitri Shepilov from Arab countries. Soviet representatives at
world who are victims of Nazi the UN are telling Western diplomats confidentially that Mos-
persecution, it was announced cow does not intend to be dragged into the Middle Eastern quar-
by Jacob Blaustein, senior vice rel beyond 'the point of no return. Some of the Soviet delegates
president of the Conference on have complained to Western diplomats about Arab "ingratitude."
Jewish Material Claims Against Whether this is mere diplomatic talk calculated to mislead the
Germany which distributes Western delegations at the UN, or whether there is any real
these awards for Jewish study, significance behind it, is difficult to say. The great expectations
about Mr. Hammarskjold's talk with the top men in Moscow may
research and creative work.
This is the third in the an- result in disappointment, but they may also be justified. It all
nual series of grants in the depends on whether Moscow will go along sincerely with the
field of Jewish studies. Of the Western powers in attempting to settle the Arab-Israel issue
194 recipients, 58 are students through the United Nations. Mr. Hammarskjold believes that
preparing for careers in profes- positive action on this issue is predicated upon an understanding
sional fields, 64 are engaged in between the Soviets and the West and that the best place where
graduate studies and 72 are fel- such an understanding can be worked out is in the UN. This
lows conducting independent idea he tried to sell in Moscow in the hope that it would make
research in the humanities, so- it possible for the Soviets and the West to find a common language
cial studies and creative art.
on the Arab-Israel problem.

