Friday, October 5, 19 56—TH E DETR OIT JEWIS H NEW S-2

on Israel's
Hammarskjoid Asks 'Rapid' End to Crisis' Notes
Position, Jewry's

UN Secretary General Dag
Hammarskjold demanded this
week that the Israel-Jordan
crisis be brought "under con-
trol rapidly."
In Jerusalem, Israel Foreign
Minister Golda Meir said her
country reaffirms the pledge for

a cease-fire but • that Jordan
similarly must maintain a cease-
fire based on reciprocity.
Israel's position was outlined
to Mr. Hammarskjold by Am-
bassador Abba Eban. (See Edi-
torial, Page 4).
In the fighting last week at

Hussan, Israel listed Jordan's
dead at 50 and her own as eight
dead and nine wounded. Three
soldiers, she reported, died when
a jeep returning from the scene
of action overturned on a nar-
row mountain road.
Joseph 0. Haft in a special

dispatch to the New York Times
from Jerusalem, cabled regard-
ing the Hussan action:
"Although the Jordanian ra-
dio described the action as a
`disastrous defeat' for the Israel
Army, in which the 'invaders'
suffered heavier casualties than
the defending force, the broad-
cast presumably was designed
to quiet Jordanian fears."
* ,* *

CommunalTrencls

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1956,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Inc.)

The State Department is now
beginning to display more un-
derstanding for Israel due to a
great extent to Col. Nasser's
impertinent attitude toward the
Western Powers . . . But it is
due to Ambassador Eban's
Israeli Reprisal also
quiet talks in the State Depart-
ment, and also to the untiring
efforts of the American Zionist
Committee for Public Affairs
. . . The latter is doing a splen-
/ -Beirut
did pro-Israel job in diplomatic
44)
circles in Washington and in
Congressional circles . .. While
the
pro-Arab propagandists have
Sea
of
SIAS1
Galilee
hundreds of thousands of dollars
at their disposal, the AZCPA is
struggling to raise funds for its
TEL AVIV
JERUSALEM
activities . . . AZCPA receives
0
no financial aid whatever from
HOUSSAN
Aminan
=ISRAE
Zionist or Israeli sources . . .
OIAD
Gaza
SEA
It exists on contributions from
individual Jews in this country
RSHEIA%
who find its work very effective
EL AUJA •
. . . These contributions are not
6 1-
tax-deductible as is the case
with contributions to other caus-
es, and this makes it even more
EGYPT
cp
difficult for AZCPA to solicit
Scene of Israel-Jordan fight- funds ... Rabbi Philip S. Bern-
—International Radio-Soundphoto
ing: Arrow points to village stein is chairman of the AZCPA
Israeli soldiers are shown here returning to
of Hussan where, in a reprisal and I. L. Kennen is its dynamic
their army base in a truck loaded with booty ering of archaeologists, in which four Israel
civilians
were
killed
and
17
wounded.
Israel
raid, Israelis claim to have executive director.
after a raid into the Hussan area in Jordan.
* * *
killed 50 members of the Jor-
They claimed to have taken the lives of 50 lost eight dead and nine were wounded in the
dan Legion.
Jewish leaders are studying
Jordanese in reprisal for an attack on a gath- Hussan encounter.
with interest an analysis of the
trends in the American Jewish
Tribute to Sir yndham D
community by Dr. John Slaw-
i
l
ip
Ph
Deedes, One of the
he Most
son, executive vice-president of
•
Eminent Christian Zionists Slomov i tz the American Jewish Committee
. Dr. Slawson draws attention
If ever there should be a compilation of philo-Semites and ish Military Mission which has been serving in the Caucasus to the fact that half of all the
Jews in the world live in Amer-
Christian supporters of the Zionist cause, the list will be headed on the staff of the Grand Duke Nicholas.'
by Sir Wyndham Deedes, who was First Chief Secretary of the
"It would be a mistake to imagine that the views of the ica and three-quarters of the
Palestine Government under High Commissioner Sir Herbert whole British army were tainted by the ideas expressed in the Jews in this country are native-
Protocols of the Elders of Zion; but at a time when the horrors born . . . He emphasizes the di-
Samuel.
Sir Wyndham died, in London, at the age of 73, on Sept. 2. of the Bolshevik revolution were fresh in everyone's mind the versity among American Jews—.
most fantastic rumors and slanders—operating frequently on the "assimi lationists," the "in-
Here is how the New York Times correspondent in London de-
existing backgrounds of prejudice—gained credence, and the tegrationists," the nationalists,
scribed his career, in a cabled obituary notice:
the Zionists, the Yiddishists
"Sir Wyndham took an increasing interest in the Zionist extracts from the Protocols which I then saw had been obvi-
movement after World War I, during which he served in the
ously selected to cater to the taste of a certain type of British Not to speak of the differences
in religious affiliation — Ortho-
Gallipoli campaign. He drew inspiration that it was the privilege
reader."
*
*
*
dox, Conservative, Reform —
of England to help the Jewish people to a new dispensation
from the Prophetic Books. The Zionists in Palestine regarded
During the trying years of Jewry's struggle to make good on in political belief, in economic
the obligations assumed under the Balfour Declaration, under philosophy . • and he asks:
him as virtually one of,their own leaders.
"After World War :I, Sir Wyndham went to Constantinople conditions of sabotage by the British in Palestine, many of whom "What binds us Jews together
as military attache, and in 1919, to Egypt as director general of were not only anti-Zionist but also, what is even worse, anti- in a community in the United
Public security. His study of the Bible and his interest in the Semitic, Dr. Weizmann found consolation in dealing with the small States if we have all these dif-
Balfour Declaration led him to an ever-deepening sympathy with group of friends whose friendship was typified by Wyndham ferences? . . . His answer is —
Deedes. Again we read in Dr. Weizmann's life story, "Trial Jewish tradition, religious faith, -
Zionism.
cultural heritage, unforgettable
"On the appointment in 1920 of Sir Herbert Samuel to be and Error":
the first High Commissioner of Palestine, Sir Wyndham was
"It was always a relief to go into Deedes' tent; with him I historical memories ..
* *
appointed Chief Secretary. After retiring from the Army, he was could speak frankly, dream freely. He it was who initiated me
knighted in 1921. He retired from public service at the end of into the habits of military camps, and eventually put me in touch
Dr. Slawson is not enthusi-
1922 and devoted himself to social work in London's East End. with General Clayton, the political officer of the Army of Pale- astic about current attempts
"In World War II Sir Wyndham became information officer stine, in whose charge the commission had been officially placed. to "centralize" Jewish com-
for the London region."
The second night of my stay in Bir Salem I spent entirely in munity life . . . He finds, in
In the main, all that is recorded here is an understatement. Deedes' tent. We talked of the present and of the future, and I his analysis, that independent
Sir Wyndham was one of the very great Englishmen of our time. told him of my hopes and plans. He listened patiently and fund-raising has in the last
He was a man of vision and sincerity, and it was believed, when benignly to it all; both critical and sympathetic, he warned me of few years successfully chal-
he quit government service, that he could not endure the in- the many obstacles I should have to overcome, but ended by lenged central fund-raising
justice of British betrayals of an historic trust to the Zionist reminding me that faith could move mountains. We talked until conducted through the Jew-
movement.
we were exhausted, and eventually he had a camp bed put up ish Federations and Welfare
While in Palestine, he was the most consistent defender of for me and I passed the remainder of the night—a short two
Funds . . .
Jewish rights. He followed the Balfour Declaration to the letter hours!—under canvas with him. We awoke to find that the 'latter
About 90 such Councils,
of the law, and when it became apparent that a trust was being rains' had come upon us while we slept, and the whole floor of throughout the United States
abused, he preferred to interrupt his diplomatic career rather the tent was covered with spring flowers. We took them as a concern themselves with Israel,
than be a party to breaking the pledge to Jewry.
happy omen."
kashruth, Jewish education, so-
*
*
*
He was personally as charming as he was principled. He was
cial service, legal action and
the most rapid and one of the most fascinating speakers this
Contrasting "administrative realities," when he "was placed
local . Jewish problems
Commentator has ever heard. We had met on the eve of Passover between the hammer and the anvil—between the slow-moving, other
. . . Dr. Slawson finds that al-
of 1927, when he came to this country to confer with friends of unimaginative, conservative and often unfriendly British admin- though they generally designate
the Zionist movement. It was apparent at once that he was in a istration, military or civil, and the impatient, dynamic Jewish
themselves as "spokesmen" for
class with Josiah Wedgwood and Arthur James Balfour as de- people, which saw in the Balfour Declaration the great promise
the Jews of their committee,
voted friends of Zionism.
of the return to them of their own country," Dr. Weizmann again they fail to represent non-pa-
*
*
*
pointed to the true friends:
rochial Jews . . . He finds that
Sir Wyndham played an important role in Palestine in the
"There were, of course, notable and noble exceptions in
the Jewish Community Rela-
years following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration. In "Trial those early days, like Wyndham Deedes and (Gen. Sir) Gilbert
tions Councils—which fight lo-
and Error" (Harper), Dr. Chaim Weizmann recalled the difficul-
Clayton (political officer on Allenby's staff) and the Commander
cal anti-Semitism — have no
ties he had encountered. "I soon discovered," he wrote, "that the in Chief (Allenby) himself. But they were not the men in daily
basis to claim that they speak
Balfour Declaration, which had made such a stir in the outside
contact with the population; they were immersed in the conduct for the entire local Jewish com-
world, had never reached many of (General) Allenby's officers,
of the war, and had to leave the details of administration to munity . . . He is of the opinion
even those of high rank. They knew nothing about it, and nothing
men of lower rank in the military hierarchy; and these were,
that the American rabbinate is
about the sympathy shown at that time to our aims and aspira- almost without exception, devoid of understanding, or vision,
over-optimistic in claiming that
tions by prominent Englishmen in every walk of life."
or even of kindness."
the Orthodox synagogues have
Dr. Weizmann then related the following experience with
Again, pointing out that "the attitude of far too many of the 2,000,000 members, the Conser-
Sir Wyndham Deedes:
British officers toward the Jews could by no stretch of the imagi- vative, 1,000,000, and Reform,
"This peculiar situation had not, however, developed itself.
nation be called .friendly," Dr. Weizmann wrote in his diaries:
1,000,000 . . . And he has strong
In an early conversation with General (now Sir Wyndham)
"The fact was, after all, that though General Deedes and words of advice for the rabbis
Deedes (he was one of the few who DID understand our posi-
Clayton gave much of their time and diplomatic skill to easing who neglect spiritual activities
tion). I learned of at least one of the sources of our tribulations.
Suddenly, and without introduction, he handed me a few sheets the situation, the general relations between the British authori- to involve themselves in purely
of typewritten script, and asked me to read them carefully. ties on the spot and the Jewish population grew more and more political problems . .. He ana-
I read the first sheet and looked up in some perplexity, asking strained, and there were only a few points where normal friendly lyzes the usefulness of Jewish
relations existed and where the indispensaible good will was centers, the effect of growing
what could be the meaning of all this rubbish. General Deedes
"suburbia" on American Jewish
actively being fostered."
replied quietly, and rather sternly: 'You had better read all of
community life, and interest of
Such
were
the
conditions
that
forced
Sir
Wyndham
Deedes
to
with
care;
it
is
going
to
cause
you
a
great
deal
of
trouble
in
it
American Jewry in Israel . .
resign rather than to be a silent witness to injustice to Jewry.
the future.' This was my first meeting with extracts from the
He may be forgotten by the British, but his name will live He comes to the conclusion that
Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
American Jews are very pro-
in the annals of the Jewish people.
"Completely baffled, I asked Deedes how the thing had
He was, indeed, one of the hassidei umot ha-olam--of the Israel, and that the creation of
reached him, and what it meant. He answered, slowly and sadly:
saintly among the nations of the world. Ziehrono livracha! Israel has given many American
`You will find it in the haversack of a great many British offi-
Jews a deep feeling of pride.
Blessed
be his memory.
cers here—and they believe it: It was brought over by the Brit-

•,`

Purely Commentary •

'

.

