Friday, Aug ust 23, 1957 — THE DETROIT J EWI SH N EW S-2

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Incident in Ottawa—and the Life Articles

An international postal workers' conference is now in prog-
ress in Ottawa, the beautiful capital of Canada. Postal problems
are being studied and discussed here by representatives of postal
systems from the entire world.
We bumped into a Philippines' delegate to this conference at
the Parliament Building, where the sessions are taking place.
By mere chance, we asked him about the Jews in the Philippines
and were stunned to learn how widespread is the propaganda
about "Jewish wealth," how deep-rooted the belief about the
mythical Jewish Midas touch and how extensive the anti-Semitic
propaganda that spreads such fantastic beliefs.
The Philippine, a man who had traveled widely, who had
been to pre-Israel Palestine, made the peculiar remark that "all
the millionaires except Ford are Jews." He would not be con-
vinced by scores of names of non-Jews who are predominant
among the rich of the world. It did not help to tell him that there
was not a single Jew among the multi-millionaire group of pulp
manufacturers in Canada, that only the Jewish group that oper-
ates the liquor industry in Canada is among the very wealthy in
that country.
He said he was convinced: "I read it in a book." Which goes
to prove that you can conduct an anti-defamation drive for de-
cades and you suddenly discover that the roots of prejudice have
not been destroyed after all: that the germs of bias seem to take
root deeper than appeals to reason and truth.
Then, upon our return from Ottawa, we were stung by the
articles in Life Magazine about the United Jewish Appeal and
American Jewry's status. This Commentator considers the art
display on UJA in the Life article shocking and humiliating.
The UJA has a noble objective. There is so much to be said
about the people it helps, the misery it alleviates, its human-
itarian aims, that we consider it vulgar to have its leadership
photographed while waving checks at fund-raising affairs.
Perhaps the selection of such photographs was not the fault
of Life's editors. After all, the Jewish leaders posed for them.
They knew that they were intended for insertion in some pub-
lication. Therefore, we wish to go on record as objecting to the
low taste of such UJA propaganda. We resent the vulgarity of
dragging an important movement down to so low a state. This
type of propaganda is offensive. True enough, money is urgently
needed to carry on the great humanitarian efforts in Israel and
on behalf of the downtrodden and dispossessed in Eastern
Europe, behind the Iron Curtain and in Moslem countries. But
it would be a sad day for Jewry if the objectives of the UJA
could not in themselves capture the imagination and inspire the
generosity of our people, without resorting to cheap stunts.
The supplementary article in Life Magazine on the current
state of affairs in American Jewry also left us with a sense of
resentment. It made too much of the Jewish vote and its mythi-
cal influence.
Here, we come to the defense of the non-Jews. It is our
deep conviction that Christians in public life have a sense of
fairness and often are inspired to support worthy causes on
their merits. We believe that Israel has won many friends
because of the justice of the cause it represents. Constantly to
harp, therefore, on the influence of the Jewish vote upon those
who support Israel's needs in Congress is to insult the .intel-
ligence and the sincerity of Christian legislators.
A typical example was the Louis Miriani incident here. Our
Acting Mayor refused to greet a political Arab convention. He
knew that a man, whose anti-American speeches caused some
newspapers to demand his expulsion from this country, was sched-
uled to be one of the main speakers at that convention, and he
refused to have anything to do with such a gathering. (That
man, Dr. Farid Zeinnedine, has since then actually been ex-
pelled from this country by order of our State Department).
Immediately, he was accused of bidding for the Jewish vote.
Few people doubt that Miriani can be defeated for the Del roit
Mayorality, yet he is accused of playing for the Jewish vote. To
dignify such accusations is to resort to cheap journalism.
In the Memorial Volume in tribute to Senator Arthur H.
Vandenberg, published by the Eighty-Second Congress, appears
tribute
by this Commentator who wrote about the late Mich-
a
igan Senator: "In all the years that we conferred with him he
never—not once—showed the slightest interest in this com-
mentator's political preferences." In your Commentator's fre-
quent conferences with members of both Houses of Congress,
from many states, from both political parties, he dealt with
principles, in relation to Israel and other causes, and not with
the influence of group-votes. And the responses he has received
have been based on principles and not on ballots.
Therefore this protest against the dragging in of the "Jewish
vote" myth whenever the principles fought-for by American
Jewry are discussed. We feel sorry for a young Jewish writer
when he falls victims to such vile views when human issues are
involved.

*

*

The New Israeli Ambassador to Canada

A very able man has been assigned to replace the equally
able Michael S. Comay as Israel's Ambassador to Canada. The
new Israeli envoy, who will assume his new duties late next
month, is our good friend Arthur Lourie.
Ambassador Lourie was for many years considered one of
the outstanding authorities on Middle Eastern political affairs.
He was associated with the late Dr. Chaim Weizmann, had pre-
pared important briefs for the World Zionist Organization and the
Jewish Agency in the years of struggle for the recognition of
Jewish rights, and was an important personality in Israel's dele-
gation to the United Nations. Before returning to Israel two
years ago, to become associated with the Foreign Ministry, he
was Israel's Consul General in New York.
Especially noteworthy about Arthur Lourie is his personal
charm. He is a genuinely cultured man. The stir that was caused
recently by the appointment of Maxwell H. Gluck as the new
U. S. Ambassador to Ceylon could never be applied either to
Arthur Lourie or to his equally able predecessor, the retiring
Ambassador Comay.
In connection with the appointment of Gluck, a New York
Times correspondent called attention to a pamphlet, recently
issued by our State Department under the title "The American
Ambassador," which said that most of the 19th century was a
"lean time" for American diplomacy; that: "Diplomatic appoint-
ments frequently rewarded the generous contributor to a cam-
paign regardless of his qualifications for the post." The pamphlet
states that all this has happily changed, and continues to say that
in today's vastly enlarged diplomatic field, the ambassador must

23-Year-Old Night el.'. Dancer, 'Mats'
Hari of Haifa: Held_ on Espionage Charge

cepted her services, particularly
because she speaks fluent He-
TEL AVIV.—A beautiful 23-
brew.
year-old night club dancer be-
Ahmed Shaadi and Daoud
came the "Mata Hari of Haifa"
Amouri, her alleged accom-
Wednesday with the disclosure
plices, both from Shafram, re-
of her arrest in charges of espi-
portedly were charged with
against
Israel.
onage
possession of arms stolen from
Naifa Samia Akala, a resident
the Sinai campaign booty, in
of Haifa and a member of an
addition to spying against Is-
Arab folk dance group per-
rael. They were charged also
forming in Haifa's Christian
with receiving 5,000 pounds
Star" night club, was arraigned danian authorities who also ac- from Syrians they met at the
border for their services, it was
reported.
No information was revealed
as to when the alleged espion-
age occurred, nor the current
status of the hearings.
NEW YORK (JTA) — The a stimulus to Israel's intensified
boycott which the Arab coun- economic evolution by promot-
tries have proclaimed against ing the need for greater self-
Israel "has not been successful" reliance. It also stresses the fact
as a policy of economic strangu- that the Israelis would prefer
lation, the current issue of For- "a free exchange of goods
tune, leading American busi- across borders now sealed by
By BORIS SMOLAR
Arab hatred.
ness magazine, states.
(Copyright, 1957, JTA, Inc.)
"Not enough foreign corn- "Businessmen throughout the
panies have been intimidated world were in receipt some Moscow Echoes:
All the talk that Soviet Rus-
to halt the growth of Israeli months ago of a strange ques-
of
foreign trade, which has jumped tionnaire,' the Fortune editorial sia may permit emigration
being
29 percent to $470.000,000 in the says. "Dated Cairo, Egypt, the Jews is for the time
last four years," an editorial in questionnaire pressed them for wishful thinking. . . As long
the publication emphasizes. information on whether their as Nikita Krushchev is the
"boss" in Moscow, there is pot
The article points oi,tt that firms were - guilty of having the slightest chance for such a
while some American and Brit- Jewish ownership or participa- move on the part of the Soviet
ish firms are allegedly submit- tion.
government. . . . It is believed
"To such shenanigans has that Anastas Mikoyan, Soviet
ting to Arab pressure, West
Germany is ignoring the Arab Egypt's Nasser been reduced in Deputy Premier who may soon
his untiring effort to enforce on become Premier, has more un-
requests to boycott Israel.
It expresses the opinion that Israel a boycott that was first derstanding for Soviet Jewry
the Arab boycott has served as promulgated in 1945 by the than Krushchev. . . . But it is
Arab League and is now tech- also know that Krushchev has
nically the law in every Arab made it clear to Poland that
Mrs. Hopp Co-Leader
state. Under the boycott there Jewish repatriates from Russia
is today no telegraphic or tele- must remain in Poland and not
of Women's Mission
phone connection between Israel be permitted to proceed to Is-
and the Arab states, nor is there rael. . . Krushchev's animos-
to Europe, Israel
Mrs. John C. Hopp, of Detroit, any rail or sea communication. ity to Israel is now finding ex-
national vice-chairman of the Planes, using Israeli airfields are pression in the growing anti-
Women's Division of the United forbidden to fly over Arab land, Israel incitement in the Soviet
and ships calling at Israeli ports press and radio. . . The cam-
Jewish Appeal,
are blacklisted by the boycot- paign has reached a point
former c h a i r-
tern. The currant blacklist where Pravda, the leading MOs-
man of the Wo-
numbers some 1 vessels, over cow paper which sets the tune
men's Division
for the entire Soviet. press and
half of British re istry.
of the Detroit
"The boycott h been strict- is acting under Krushchev's in-
Allied Jewish
ly observed by iddle East oil structions, has seen fit to
Campaign, to-
companies anxio to please come out with a direct attack
gether with
their Arab landlords," the edi- on Israel's Prime . Minister,
Mrs. Jack A.
torial continues. rAramco, for David Ben-Gurion, describing
Goodman, of
instance, has repoitedly gone so him as a "warmonger." ... This
In di anapolis,
far as to threaten to cancel its was a signal for every "Tom,
national chair-
contracts with European firms Dick and Harry" in the Soviet
man of the
reducing such innocent ap- Union to indulge in anti-Israel
U J A Women's
_4;.***ala paratus as floating roofs for propaganda. . . The hostility
Division, w ill
water tanks if those firms do toward Israel in the Soviet ra-
Mrs. Hopp
lead an over-
dio and press has especially
seas study mission of 33 women business with IsraeL
"Other companies allegedly been intensified since the So-
leaders.
abiding by the squeeze include viet - Syrian agreement was
The group will leave from
Ex- signed in Moscow early this
New York on Sept. 6 and will BOAC, Philips, American
month. . . . In Washington, the
-
American
To-
press,
and
British
make a three-week study of
intensified anti-Israel campaign
all
of
which
have
shut
bacco,
welfare, resettlement and immi-
conducted by Moscow is being
down
operation
in
Israel
in
re-
grant absorption of UJA-sup-
watched with great interest.
cent
years.
ported agencies in Europe and
. . . It coincides with the in-
"On the other. hand, Arab
Israel.
tensified Syrian campaign
states have been reluctant to against the United States
Other Deiroiters who, with

(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
The Jewish News)

in secret proceedings with two
Israeli Arab youths charged
with being her accomplices.
The dancer was charged with
twice having crossed the Jor-
danian border at Beit Saffafa
near Jerusalem where she al-
legedly met a Syrian military
attache. The prosecution re-
portedly charged that after con-
versations with the Syrian, Miss
Akala was turned over to Jor-

Arab Boycott Against Israel Seen
As a Complete Failure by Magazine

Between
You and Me

Mrs. Hopp, will be members of
the mission, are Mesdames Lew-
is B. Daniels, Ivor Kahn, Abra-
ham Cooper and H. C. Broder.

bar lucrative trade with foreign
areas simply on the grounds of
the boycott. A case in point is
was
West Germany, which
threatened with loss o7: all its
business with the Arabs if it

started immediately after the
signing of the Soviet-Syrian
pact in Moscow.

* *

Israel Problems:

This Commentator had the good fortune of accompanying
Arthur Lourie to San Francisco in 1945, in the early days of the
United Nations, which were such trying times for the Zionist
movement. He learned to know Lourie, to enjoy his friendship
and to admire his ability to deal with people, regardless where
they stemmed from.
Like Comay, who has been named Israel's Deputy Director-

With the withdrawal of the
British oil companies from
operations in Israel, a study
has now been made in the
United States on Israel's oil-
fields. . . . The study estab-
lishes that the production of
oil from local Israel oilfields
has grown in less than two
years—since the discovery of
oil in September, 1955 to 1,600
barrels per day. . . . Lately,
small quantities of oil have
come, to Israel from Iran, on
chartered tankers, through the
Gulf of Aqaba to Elath. . . .
The total production of 600,000
barrels a year from the Israel
oil fields in Heletz and Brur
satisfies only about six per cent
of Israel's total requirements
for petroleum products and
about eight per cent of her
crude needs. . . Hope is there-
fore laid on the drilling which
is going on in Heletz and Brur
region for more oil wells, and
on the investors who have oil
rights in seven other areas. ...
At this time, the investors are
actively- exploring for oil in
all but two of these areas. .. .

General of Foreign Affairs, Lourie comes from South Africa.
Both had good training preparatory to their diplomatic careers.
It is good to know that Israel will continue to be so well
represented in our neighboring country.

Dead Sea.

Metallurgy Department
Added to Israel Technion

Technion has opened its new
Department of Metallurgy, en-

abling Israel students to work
toward a Master of Science de-
gree in the use and treatment

signed a reparations agreement
with Israel.
"Bonn signed, and the Arab
League looked the other way;
there is quite a flourishing trade
today between West Germany
and the Arab states. All in all,
the Arab boycott must be re-
garded as an immense irritant
for Israel. As a policy of eco-
nomic strangulation it has not

of metals, a comparatively new
field of endeavor for Israel. The
new Department will be the
tenth faculty or department at
been successful."
Technion.

be thoroughly familiar with "all aspects of life in the country of
his assignment."
Indeed, Arthur Lourie is thoroughly familiar with the land he

is coming to. He is familiar with world affairs. He is certain to
match any other member of the diplomatic corps in Ottawa.
Lourie, like the man whom he succeeds, has the good fortune
of being accompanied to Ottawa by a charming wife. It will be
recalled that Mrs. Comay, like her husband, was an able speaker
and an excellent writer. Mrs. Lourie is a good administrator, she
comes with an excellent background in American Hadassah and
with the charm that lends glory to Ambassadorial families.

—

According to geologists, the re-
gion of Israel with the greatest
promise for oil adjoins the

