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Purely Commentary

tt1 Frustration Befogs Mid-East Situation
Bewilderment and frustration are destined
accompany our Secretary of State and his
1 associates on their globe-wide travels to tackle
our foreign problems, unless they adopt a firm
E•4
position in matters involving the Middle East.
Every informed person and all the impor-
tant •newspapers •in the land insist that the
ri1 Eisenhower administration should stop aPpeaS -7
ing Nasser. Better evidence than the vague an-
•
rr4 nouncements from Bermuda is needed to con-
vince us that a strong stand is about to be taken
•
, by the present administration.
Best proof of the continued befuddlement
▪ of the issue is to be found in the report from
I
Bermuda, whence came a joint U.S.-British
s••I
assertion of "satisfaction" in the resulting Ei-
ot senhower-Macmillan talks. We were told that
the British now belieVe that in the event of new
s „ - Nasser rejections of UN proposals on the Suez
issue, "they can count on early and effective
• UN action." That, of course, is - pure bunk. The
as UN has not been able to get action on anything;
7.4 except when it involved stepping on the weaker
;64 element—Israel. It succeeded in,getting action
against France and Britain in NoVember be-
cause the United States chose, on the decision
—which many of us continue to view as having
been unwise—of Eisenhower and Dulles to -work
together with the - RUsSian and Afro-A s i„a n
blocs. Otherwise, the world organization, suf-
fering from unfortunate pressures, remains in-
effective.
All that can be said for that great debat-
ing society, up to this point, is that as long
as statesmen refrain from, fighting and keep
-
on talking, there - is hope for peace.
But there are excellent opportunities to
make the UN an effectively-working organiza-
tion — through firm action
motivated by aspirations for
genuine peace and for the
consideration of the world's
issues on the basis of facts.
We are confident that Presi-
dent Eisenhower can be jhe
'^nality who is needed to
otganiza-
tong the
vided
im-

to

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Eisehhower
Brig. Gen. S. L. A.
.ews military • analyst
Atiforial writer; who told the
,emy of Science, Arts and Letters
.iat if the ,United States had waited
, more before telling Britain and France
to get out of the Suez last fall, Nasser might
have fallen; and if he had fallen it would have
been greatly to the advantage, of ,the Western
World.
American spokesmen have
and
if _there is to be an end to confusion there must
be a change in the thinking of our leaders.
The HammarskjoldrNasser "secret talks" are
not leading us anywhere. The Dulles-Lodge
vacillations are not restoring confidence in
their actions. There must be new approaches,
based on faith-inspiring acts that will negate
the double talk that has disgraced U.S: and UN
activities in recent months.
*
*
Eisenhower's Sincere Concern
We are beginning to believe that the Presi-
dent was misled about the entire situation. His
letter assuring David Ben-Gurion that Israel
will have no cause to regret the withdrawal of
her troops; his assertion, in reply to a question
directed to him by Mrs. Mary Craig of the
Portland Press-Herald, at a White House press
conference, relating to what he may have said
to King Saud: "I have never spoken to anyone
since 1948. about our international problems in
that area that T didn't start it off with this,
`We must recognize that ISrael is an historical
fact, it has got to be dealt with, and its .prob-
lems are those of any other nation.' There is no
question in my mind that would cast doubt on
that statement, and I have. said it to everyone,
not merely to the king"; and numerous other
proclamations pointed to his deep and serious
interest in Israel's status.
EspeCially revealing was this March 4
report to the Christian Science Monitor from
its Washington correspondent, Joseph C.
Harsch: "The Premier of France, Guy Mollet,
arrived in Washington assuming that the one
subject President Eisenhower and his Secre-
tary of State, John. Foster Dulles, would not
under any circumstances want to talk about
with him would be Israel and Israel's diffi-,
entities with Egypt.... M. Mollet and his staff
were not, therefore, expecting - to discuss Is-
rael when they sat down for their opening
chat with Mr. Eisenhower. To their surprise
it was the first subject Mr. Eisenhower raised.
To their further surprise the State Depart-
ment proved not only receptive to, but even
eager for, suggestions front the French about
ways and means of grappling with--the many-
thorned subject."
It was President Eisenhower who raised
the issue at the White House, encouraging M.
Mollet to enter into the question, and _by the
same token we believe that President Eisen-
hower could control the State Department also

.

By Philip
Slomovitz

State of Israel Honorg Rogosin's
70th. Birthday; Industrialist Sets
Plans for •$20 Million Israel =..Plant

in matters involving a permanent, just and
peaceful solution of the Middle East question—
In celebration of his 70th Trade •Bank- and Trust Com-
provided he were not hampered in taking the
birthday, Israel Rogosin, head pany. _
lead in the matter.
of Beaunit Mills, Inc., and lead-
The highlight. of • the . dinner
ing U. S. industrialist and phi- was the presentation to Rogosin
Ben-Gurion and the Thorny Issue
Indeed, this is a very . thorny question, and lanthropist, announced, the es- by Ambassador Eban of an an-
in viewing it fair-minded people must take into tablishment "a a $20,000,000 cient Megillah, a Scr011 of
ConSideration - the . attitude of Israel's Prime rayon ' plant in Israel, which Esther, brought by Mr. Sapir
Minister. David Ben.:Gurionthe David who will be the largest . American- as a gift. from the government
financed industry in the coun- of Israel. The Megillah is 'en-
_must grapple with a many-headed Goliath.
cased in brass, and represents
In his statement to his Parliament last try.
Rogosin personally is invest- one of the outstanding examples
Week, Ben-Gurion had this to say regarding
his acceptance of President Eisenhower's as- ing $6,000,000, of the $20,000,000 'still in existence of the art of
needed. The Israel government the ancient Jewish scroll-
surances to him, in his letter of March 2:
makers.
"In this letter the President stated we is underwriting. $7,000,000, while
The new plant in Israel is to
private
individuals
and
institu-
would have no regrets if we withdrew. For
be -named -Rogosin Industries
tions
•
are
investing
the
remain-
me, this was more valid than any treaty be-
ing $7,000,000. Ro-gosin's firm, Ltd., and will benefit from Mr.
tween nations. That was the word not only
Rogosin's experience as head of
of the President of the United States but of Be aunit, Mills, is investing one of the world's largest pro-
an honorable man, a friend and a general of $1,000,000 of this sum.
The New York busing- ss ducers of rayon. He has previ-
armies. When he said we would have no re-
leader
also announced that he ously directed the establishment
grets, I took that to mean everything—since
is
contributing
$4,000,000 to a of rayon plants in India, Japan,
I am sure he knew what would cause us to
group
of
research
and educa- Mexico and Brazil. It is ex-
regret our withdrawal."
pected that approximately 50
This is a significant statement, and, inter- tional institutions in the United percent of the rayon produced
estingly enough; it is supplemented by another States and Israel. He is alSo by the Israel plant will be ex-
Ben-Gurion declaration, in a letter to Israel's the largest holder of State of ported, thus constituting a new
border settlements, dated March 7, in which he Israel Bonds in the • world, hav- major export industry. Substan-
admitted his concern over sanctions, his fear ing recently purchased $1,000,- tial hard currency savings will
that the supply of arms to Israel would thereby 000 in bonds. -
result from these exports, and
be cut off and that "even Israel's old and true
Mr. Rogosin made his an- from the plant's ability to meet
friends, Canada and France, would have been nouncement .at- a dinner ten- all of Israel's domesiic rayon
unable to -sell us modern aircraft if powerful dered in his honor Monday by needs.
nations such as the United States allowed sanc- the State of Israel, Israel Am-
Rogosin's $4,000,000 gift to
tions to be imposed."
bassador and Mrs. Abba Eban the educational institutions will
. That is why we hold to the view that Presi- were hosts at the dinner at the take the form of stock in the
dent Eisenhower holds acts of "fair play" for Waldorf - Astoria Hotel, New new rayon plant. Among the
Israel in the palm of his hand. That is why York, where more than 800 men American institutions are Bran-
there . is so much concern over the negative and women joined in paying deis University, Jewish Theo-
forces which have acted to Israel's detriment tribute to Rogosin. Principal logical Seminary and Yeshiva
after the Jewish State had received encourage- speakers at the dinner were University. Israeli institutions
ment which can only be interpreted as' "as- Mr. Eban, Israel Minister of include the Hebrew University,
surances." * * *
Trade and Industry Pinhas Sa- Weizmann Institute, Technion,
pir, and Ira Guilden, leading Bar-Ilan University, Boystown
Three Men With Negative Approaches
There are three men whose actions seem New York financier who is Jerusalem and Ozar Torah Sep-
to have reversed the President's - statements— chairman of the board of the hardic schools.
three men in whom the President has expressed
■
■
■
■
■ ■
■
■
implict trust: John Foster Dulles, Dag Ham-
marskjold and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Boris Smolar's

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(Copyright, 1957,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

Dulles

'Hammarskjold

Arguments exposing . the role of our Secre-
tary of State have been marshaled by several
memberS of the United States Senate. Of spe-
cial interest is the fact that on a single day in
Congressional procedures, a statement charging
the State Department with double-crossing Is-
rael was quoted three times by Members of
Congress. The Congressional Record of March
19 carried the article, "Israelis Victims of Dou-
blecross," by Drew Pearson, three times. It
was inserted by Senators Wayne Morse of
Oregon and Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin and
Rep. - Abraham J. Multer of. New York.
Senator McCarthy remarked, in a state-
ment accompanying the insertion of this article:
"While I normally do not have too much re-
spect for the accuracy of Mr. Pearson's com-
ments,' this one seems to be completely accurate,
and one which I believe should be printed in
the Record."
In This article, Pearson called attention to
the worldwide objections to Dulles' proposals
of sanctions to be imposed on Israel. He wrote
that Dulles "literally begged Premier Mollet
to help him out of the Near East dilemma";
that the French suggested that "Israel might
base its withdrawal on a series of assumptions.
which would be approved in advance by the
United States and France"; that these were
agreed upon and Dulles "made six or eight
changes in the wording" before Mrs. Golda
Meir made her statement to the UN. in behalf
of her government. Pearson states that Am-
bassador Lodge was to have said to the UN
General Assembly that Mrs. Meir's assumptions
were "reasonable." Then Pearson made this
revelation, pointing to "the biggest diplomatic
double-cross":
When Lodge spoke, however, he changed
the-signals. Instead of calling the assump-
tions "reasonable," as agreed, he called them
"not unreasonable." He also went out of his
way to emphasize that Egypt could exercise -
control over Gaza.
This was what made the Israeli govern-
ment almost reverse itself and not get out of
Gaza after all. Undoubtedly the Cabinet
(Continued on Page 441)

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The American Scene:
United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold will
make his first appearance at a Jewish gathering when he ad-
dresses the 50th anniversary meeting of the American Jewish
Committee . . . He will be the principal ,guest speaker at the
banquet AJC will give April 13, to mark a half century of its
existence • . Events that will precede the dinner will determine
whether he will touch on the Arab-Israel issue in his address to
the Jewish leaders . . . -His, main theme is being built upon an
examination of human rights principles which have emerged in
the past half century Hammarskjold is not the most popular
person now in Israel.
The American JeWish Committee will, at its meeting, accept
a new policy statement on .Israel and other matters of Jewish
interest . . It will re-examine its stand, as set forth in 1949,
in the light of major events in the past eight years . . The new
statement of policy, being drafted by a 12-man committee, will
be the center of discussion at the three-day AJC meeting . . .
One of the sessions at the meeting will be devoted to America's
Middle East policy . . The principal speaker appraising this
policy will be Joseph E. Johnson, president of the Carnegie En-
dowment for International Peace . . . Prospects for improved
Arab-Israeli understanding will be analyzed in the light of
America's stake in the Middle East . . . Prospects for a settle-
ment df the Arab reftnifee problem, as well as for eventual.
Arab-Israel economic cooperation also will be reviewed . The
problems facing American Jewish communities will occupy a
good deal of attention at the three-day meeting.

*

*

*

The Big Question :
Is Jewish religion really undergoing a revival in the United
States? . . Some consider the growing number of synagogue
buildings an indication of growth of religious feelings in Ameri-
can Jewry . . Others point out that these synagogues are built
primarily in the suburbs and serve more as a center for social
activities than a place for worship . . . There are, also some
Jewish leaders who assert that "religious revival, while statis-
tically a success, is spiritually a failure . . ."
This opinion is expressed in. the American Jewish Year Book,
just published . . . The Synagogue Council of America, which
held its annual General Assembly this week, admits that about
one-third, of all the Jews in this country have no affiliation with
Jewish religious life . .. They are not members of any of .the
4,079 synagogues and temples in this country . . . To this, pessi-
mists add that even among those who are members of a Jewish
house of worship, the great majority does not attend religious
services except on the High, Holydays . . . The pessimists point
to the fact that a large proportion of Jewish students in colleges
and universities assert they are not interested in religion . . .
They go out of their way to stress that they are Jews, but also
stress they are absolutely indifferent to religion t . , Consolation
may be found in the same weaknesS among non-Jews . . More
than 40 percent of all adult Christians in this country have no
church affiliation . . . Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that
since 1950, about $250,000,000 has been invested in religious
building projecti in the metropolitan New York area alone .
At least $50,000,000 of the total had been earmarked for building
by Protestants and $10,000,000 by Jews.

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