Judaism Council's
Flagrant
Distortions of
Truth
E JEWISH NEWS
`Children have I
reared, and they
have betrayed Me?'
—Is. 1.2
A Weekly Review
*
Reform Worship
in Israel
. Political Party
Platforms
of JewIsh Events
Editorials, Page 4
Commentary, Pg. 2
Michigan's Only English - Jewish
VOLUME XXIX—No. 24
Between
the Devil and
• the Deep Sea
Israel:
27
Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE -8-9364—Detroit 35, August 17, 1956
$5.00 Per Year; Single Copy 1 5c
Israel's Suez Canal Handicaps
Presented as Testing Points in
Solving Grave . Middle East Issue
Democratic Plank Calls for
Defensive Arms for Israel,
Suez Freedom for Her Ships
CHICAGO — Unity or the planks of the Demo-
cratic platform concerning Israel was reached Tuesday
at a closed meeting of the ."Small Platform Committee"
of the Democratic National Convention.
- The 15-man body, which prepared the party's
political platform for adoption by the convention,
reached _recommendations to enable Israel to acquire
defensive weapons in this country, and to guarantee
that Israel ships as well as other ships proceeding to
and from Israel should enjoy the same rights in pass-
ing through the Suez Canal as ships of any other nation.
The full text of the • adopted plank, which was
approved Wednesday by the entire platform commit-
tee, is on page 28. . - •
The keynote speaker, -Frank G. Clement, Governor
of . Tennessee, told the. convention Monday night that
the Republican administration has • "permitted the
country_of. Israel to be placed -in jeopardy by ineptnes
and inactivity, and the failure to approach this great
jroblem on •a bipartisan basis."
GOP Urged to Act Against
Discrimintitions by Arabs
SAN FRANCISCO —.The Republican platform
committee was urged Wednesday by 10 major National
Jewish religious and community relations organiza-
tions to adopt a platform plank pledging action "to
counter current discrimination against U. S. citizens
on the basis of religion and to preserve the integrity
3if United States citizenship."
The views of the organizations were presented to
(Continued on Page 28)
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News)
LONDON.—Although the Israel government has not-yet given public expression of its view
on the Suei Canal situation, it is not inactive in the Diplomatic talks which are taking place here
prior to the opening Thursday of the 20 nations international conference on Egypt's nationaliza-
tion of the Canal company. Some observers here expect more from the private behind-the-scenes
talks than from the London conference itself.
Israel's view is that Suez passage is not less important to her than to any other nation. On
this passage, for example, depends her growing volume of trade with the countries of East and West
Africa, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Gold Coast. The economy of Israel is complementary to
that of a number of these countries, and in the view of informed observers but for the blockade
of the canal mutually advantageous trade in both directions could well have developed. Israel's
trade with the counrties of Asia and the Far East, such as Burma and Australia, also depends
on free passage through the Suez Canal.
Another important consideration, and one which she shares with most European countries, is
that her economy is largely dependent on oil normally transported - through the canal to the -Haifa
Refinery from •oil producing countries in the Middle East. Furthermore, the geography of Israel is
such that the Suez Canal serves as a sea connection between Haifa, Israel's largest harbor, and
Elath, its southern outlet to the Red Sea. - '-
Thus, the Israelis are able to explain in a sense that the fewer the actual incidents of deten-
tion and confiscation the worse is the position and the graver the proof of transgression. By the
very existence- of the regulations, ships actually detained en route to Israel include one Danish,
one Swedish, one Norwegian, two Italian and four Greek vessels. Proof that the Egyptian block-,
ade on oil supplies, for example, has been complete and water tight, -and that the Egyptian gov-
ernment has extorted from, other governments an unwilling surrender to its ,illegitimate regula-.
tions, is demonstrated by the fact that scarcely a single one of the hundreds of tankers passing •
through the canal each year has tried to sell part of its cargo at Haifa. Tens of millions of
dollars have been lost to- Israel and larger sums to other countries through the need to.purchase_
thOusands_ of miles away oil which should be available locally if Egypt stopped its piracy.
For all these and -related reasons it will be the purpose of the Israel diplomatic initiative
during the *coming days to make it clear that Israel has the greatest possible interest in the
success of efforts now being made to achieve an arrangement by which the international char-
acter of the canal and implementation of the Suez Canal convention of 1888 shall be assured.
The Israelis feel entitled to hope that the maritime powers which are to meet in London will
not rest and will not consider the issue of the Suez Canal settled until Israel ships and ships
under other flags carrying cargoes to and from Israel are guaranteed free passage through the
canal, along -- with the ships of all other nations and ships going to all other destinations.
Israeli diplomats are expected to press the point that the London conference cannot pass in
silence over this aspect of the problem of the canal's future. The fact that this issue is part and
parcel of the Arab—Israel dispute does not make it less relevant to the present situation. In the
Israel view the canal convention does not allow Egypt to exploit the canal for purposes connected
with any dispute she may have with any country.
As long as Egypt refuses passage to ships of any nation whatsoever and thereby remains the
arbiter regarding the use of the canal, no other nation can be certain that it may not find itself
in a similar position in the future. In this sense, the Israelis regard their aspect of the problem
as a testing point for whatever future canal arrangements are eventually arrived.
Democrats Enter Battle on Middle East Issue
Sanctimonious Hypocrisy' Gets Severe Blow
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
" • (Copyright, 1956, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
CHICAGO — Anti-Israel elements were handed
their severest rebuke in American political history
by the Demodratic platform I committee.
Anti-Zionists sought to use public hearings of
the platform committee to disseminate anti-Israel
propaganda. - - A line was introduced - alleging that
U. S. support of Israel was responsible for the Suez
debacle and Communist penetration of the Arab
world. Testimony was given by President Clarence
L. Coleman, Jr., of the anti-Zionist "American Coun-
ell for Judaism", and Alfred M. Lilienthal, spokes-
m.an for a pro-Arab front group.
Lilienthal was originally allocated 10 minutes in
-
which to testify. It was the same amount of time
initially given to others. But Lilienthal demanded
35 minutes. Chairman John W. McCormack informed
Lilienthal that he would be given a fair chance to
express his views but would not be allowed to "dic-
tate" to the committee. McCormack, a Massachu-
setts Democrat, is House Majority Leader.
When Lilienthal finished his incitement for the
abandonment of Israel's cause, a dignified committee
member arose. He was Jose A. Benitez, a delegate
to the convention from Porto Rico. Benitez said
that Porto Rico would vote against any such plank
as proposed by Lilienthal. He explained that Porto
Rico had the "greatest admiration" for Israel. • Com-
mittee members and the audience applauded vigor-
ously.
-
-
Lilienthal sought to reply by shrieking that he
himself was a Jew. At this point McCormack termed
'Lilienthal's injection of religion in this way as
"irrelevant and un-American . . " He indicated
he felt Lilienthal to be an agitator who came to the
convention with a "provocative intent."
Coleman, the other anti-.Israel witness, tried to
raise a question of dual loyalty, of - American ,'Jews
and attempted to turn the Democrats against Israel.
Chairman McCormack asked if the basis of Coleman
"dual loyalty" premise was correct. The chairman
indicated he felt it completely consistent with the
. American national interest that Americans support
Israel and that the state survive.
Mayor David Lawrence of Pittsburgh," also on--
the platform body, suggested that Lilienthal had
abandoned his own people. The mayor saw nothing ,
. wrong in American Jewish interest in Israel. In fact,
Lawrence expressed pride in being an honorary.
United Jewish Appeal chairman and selling Israel
Bonds—in addition to actively supporting the Irish
independence movement. Lawrence moved the com-
mittee by recalling the plight of the refugee ship
"Exodus" and the suffering of 'Jews because they
had no land of their own.
Rep. John E. Moss, Jr., California Democrat,
expressed displeasure that Coleman took the corn-
- mittee's time. Other Democrats, commenting after
conclusion of the hearing, accused Lilienthal and
Coleman of "sanctimonious hypocrisy." It was
pointed out that the anti-Zionist groups, like' the
ACJ, injected themselves into politics by publicly
congratulating Secretary of State Dulles and Pyesi-
dent Eisenhower for policies and moves welcomed
by the anti-Zionists. But when pro-Israel organiza-
tions expressed themselves, the issues of "political
pressure" and "loyalty" were raised.
Anti-Zionist activities here backfired badly. The
ACJ was already on weak grounds because of the
recent resignation of one Of its founders, Rabbi
Irving F. Reichert of San Francisco. The group was
further repudiated by resolutions adopted by the
three major rabbinical groups—Orthodox,- Conserva-
tive, and Reformed. If all this did not detract from
the status of the ACJ, it came to Chicago with its
statements supporting Republican foreign policy in
the Middle East a matter of public record.
Ninety-one DemoCratic Congressmen signed a
statement submitted to the convention. It revealed
points to be pursued in the coming campaign.
Adlai Stevenson's supporters pointed to his
statement that "We cannot meet Russian action in
the Middle East with inaction. They deliver the
arms of war (to Egypt) with extraordinary speed.
We must counter just as : quickly . . . to restore an
equitable balance of arms strength which will re --
strain aggressive military action .. ."
It was clear that the Democrats in Chicago
decided to do battle with the Republicans on Middle
East policy. Friends of Israel are now observing
events unfolding at San Francisco and are wonder-
ing if arms for Israel will emerge before Nov. 6.
See Commentary, Page 2,
and Editorial, Page 4