Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Ben-Gurion's Note Tells Bulganin of
Israel's Desire for Universal Peace,
Closer Economic, Cultural Relations

JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Prime sively from the letter which the indivisible," Ben - Gurion con-
Minister David Ben-Gurion told Israel Government sent on May tinued, "and therefore peace
Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulgan- 7, 1957, to James P. Richards, must be maintained everywhere
in—in a lengthy note the text who toured the Middle East as for any small or local war is
of which was made public here President Eisenhower's special likely to spread into a world-
—that Israel has a strong desire envoy on behalf of the Eisen- wide conflagration." •
"Israel wholeheartedly wel-
to establish closer economic and hower Doctrine.
The Israel reply to Premier comes the Soviet government's
cultural relations with Moscow.
At the same time, he reiterated Bulganin's not e expressed opinion that relations among
Israel's adherence to the prin- "desire to cooperate with the nations must be based on the
ciples of the Eisenhower Doc- Soviet government and all mutual maintenance of sover-
trine for the Middle East as a other friendly governments" eignty, territorial integrity, non-
most suitable expression of Is- to achieve the aims listed in aggression and non-interference
the Israel letter to Ambassa- in internal affairs," the BewGu-
rael's aims to strengthen univer-
dor Richards. As a small rion note declared. It noted that
sal peace and improve interna-
country, the reply said, Israel as a small nation which gained
tional relations.
"abstains f r o m expressing its independence but ten years
Premier Ben - Gurion's note,
handed to Soviet Ambassador opinions regarding the causes ago, "with the assistance of the
Alexander Abramov, replied to of international tension, al- Soviet Union and the United
the note sent Israel by Soviet though not necessarily be- States," Israel's chief task was
cause Israel agrees with all the development of its resources
Premier Bulganin last month in
connection with Moscow's prop- points in the Soviet note on and the absorption of immi-
aganda campaign for achieving this issue." However, Premier grants.
world peace. The reply empha- Ben-Gurion added, Israel con-
The USSR could "greatly
sized that the Israel Govern- curred in the Soviet assump-
assist the promotion of a Mid .-
ment expresses "full agreement tion that Israel wanted with
dle East peace," the note
with the Soviet Government re- all its strength to prevent any
went on, if it were to "advise
new
war
and
to
strengthen
Israel and the Arab states of
garding most of the construc-
tive principles" contained, n the peace.
the Middle East to enter into
"Israel believes that peace is direct negotiations for the
The tradition for tree-planting has been carried over to our Soviet note, but quoted exten-
time. Children in our Jewish community schools are making a
conclusion of a peace treaty
real festival of Hamisha Asar by planting trees in Israel, and
and the establishment of co-
by partaking of the traditional fruits. Adults, too, would do well
operation."
to encourage the children in this task by joining in the tree-
In conclusion, the Israeli note
planting practice.
said: "The government of Israel
The planting of trees through the Jewish National Fund
wishes to declare its strong de-
already is so popular that the purpose of this labor of love for
sire to establish closer economic
United Nations partition plan.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Israel needs no explanation. Such identification of the people
to The Jewish News
(In London, Minister of State and cultural relations between
SYDNEY — British Prime for Foreign Affairs Alan Noble Israel and the Soviet Union
of Israel with the soil of Israel, and—through the Tu b'Shevat
festival—of the Jewish people with their kinsmen in Israel, is Minister Harold MacMillan de- told Parliament that British pol- and, with the improvement of
one of the heartening phenomena that has helped elevate clared here Tuesday that there icy regarding the Israel-Arab the international climate in
Hamisha Asar from a minor place on the Jewish calendar to was no foundation for reports
conflict remains based on the view, to improve relations be-
that the British government was
one of gradually growing dignity and importance.
principles of the Tripartite Dec- ' tween Israel and the Soviet
urging r e v i v al of the 1947 laration of 1950. Noble said his Union. The Israel Government
United Nations frontier recom- government supports the terri- is convinced that such an im-
Commemorative Stamps—Israel and Tercentenary
mendations as part of a solution
torial integrity of the Middle provement in relations would
. On -Jan. 14, Congressman Alfred E. Santangelo, of New for the Arab-Israel problem.
East states and their existing strengthen the Middle East
Premier MacMillan, arriving
York, made a strong statement in the Congressional Record,
frontiers "where these may be peace and would perhaps con-
announcing that he is introducing "a bill which provides for the here on his tour of Common- considered as final and- interna- , tribute in modest measure to a
reduction of world tension.".
issuance of a special postage stamp in commemoration of the wealth countries, said he had tionally accepted.")
not heard of any such plans,
10th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel."
■
■
except for press reports, and
■
■ ■
■
State Department sources, according to a Jewish Telegraphic added there had been no change
Agency report, thereupon "quickly pointed out that the depart- in the British government's at-
Boris Smolar's
ment would advise postal authorities against such a stamp be- titude on the Arab-Israel dead-
cause the Arabs might take offense."
lock. He made the statements in
The JTA news story states, in this connection:
reply to questions from Jewish
"According to the reported State Department view, a U.S. newsmen at a press conference.
Replying to a question about
stamp honoring Israel would facilitate Communist propaganda
which seeks to equate the United States with Israel in Arab eyes. hopes for a general solution of
There is also said to be a 'practical question' of whether the the Middle. East problems, he
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Arab states would allow U.S. mail bearing such stamps to be said this was bound up with
delivered through their internal postal systems. However, the problems of the "great East-
State Department has not spoken officially although officials West struggle," adding that "we Atomic Israel
who usually advise on such matters are known to have formu- must be patiently hopeful and
watchful and never lose an op-
The progress which Israel is making in the field of atomic
lated a negative attitude."
portunity for examination of a research is no longer a secret. A $10,000,000 nuclear sciences
There is nothing surprising about the position taken by our possible solution."
building is in the last stages of construction at the Weizmann
State Department. Fear of repercussions from Arab sources has
Asked to what extent he Institute at Rehovot. Several sections are already in use. Im-
blocked more than one enterprise. The panicky attitude over thought containment of the Sov- portant equipment was recently brought from the United States
Moslem reactions has interfered with many projects and on iet Union should be permitted and is being installed in a special concrete tower. The only other
numerous occasions stymied Israeli activities.
to take priority over a solution country in the whole of Asia possessing such equipment is
But the Israel 10th anniversary is not the first occasion for of other Middle East problems, Japan. Preparations are going ahead for the construction of
refusal by our postal authorities to honor American Jewry's the Prime Minister replied that Israel's first atomic reactor. Quantities of uranium have been
requests for a special commemorative stamp. During the Ameri- prevention of war and not only discovered in the Negev. Nuclear scientific cooperation has been
can Jewish Tercentenary celebration, the U. S. Post Office re- nuclear war was the first consid- established with the Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina,
as well as with France. At the same time, Israel is conducting
fused to consider issuing a special stamp to mark this strictly eration.
(The report of a promulgated investigations into the physical phenomena of the sun. Two
American observance.
union between Egypt and Syria, laboratories—a cosmic ray laboratory and a solar physics labor-
This is not necessarily anti-Semitism. We view it rather as with Egyptian President Gamal tory—have been set up to conduct these investigations above
a lack of good judgment. The Tercentenary marked an important
and below the ground. A balloon-borne measuring instrument
American historical event. But when the proposal for a Jewish Abdel Nasser as president and which radios its reading to a ground station is sent daily to
Syrian President Shuki - el - Ku-
commemorative stamp was made, the state-church issue was
altitudes of almost 20 miles. Continuous recording of the dif-
-mentioned as a possible objection. It was said: if a Jewish watly as vice-president empha- ferent layers of the ionosphere is also under way. Israel is the
sizes
that
the
frontiers
of
the
occasion is to be honored, why not, thereafter, similar Protestant
two countries are widely separ- only Middle Eastern country taking part in the worldwide co-
or Catholic or Moslem requests?
ated "with a hostile Israel and operative effort of the International Geophysical Year, the re-
But our Tercentenary did not necessarily represent a reli- a certainly none-too-friendly sults of which are so intensely watched by top scientists in the
gious factor. It was primarily the beginning of an important Jordan lying between them." It United States and other countries.
immigration movement, of a dramatic humanitarian trek by is said that Turkey viewed the
*
oppressed people toward this land of freedom. Out of that be- proposed union with "greatest
Jewish Centers
ginning grew a great American Jewish community whose activi- concern."
The issue I raised that few Jewish centers can boast that
ties parallel the efforts of all Americans.
(On the other hand, at An-
There may have been justifiCation for not considering a kara, on the eve of the opening they have Jewish paintings on their walls has attracted attention
Tercentenary stamp, and perhaps the State Department is right of the Bagdad Pact conference, throughout the country. I have received letters from Jewish
in refusing to endorse a State of Israel anniversary stamp. What Turkish Foreign Minister Fatin centers who claim that they do patronize Jewish art by acquir-
hurts is that fears for Arab opposition should be responsible for Rustu Zorlu called f6r a settle- ing painting of such celebrated Jewish artists as Abraham Manie-
our Government's actions. That, in itself, hardly represents an ment of the Palestine problem vich, Mane Katz, Saul Raskin, and others. The best letter I re-
along the lines of the 1947 ceived on this subject comes from Bernard Postal, of the Nation-
act of justice.
al Jewish Welfare Board. He assures me that his organization
*
*
*
keeps
track of the interest in Jewish art displayed by the JWB-
Official
Goes
WJ Congress
affiliated Jewish Community Centers, as distinct from "Jewish
The Late Irving W. Blumberg
To LONDON
Moroccan •(JTA)
Conference
A. L. I centers." And he lists a number of Jewish Community Centers
Irving W. Blumberg began his communal activities a long Easterman, political director of I that adorn their walls with the works of Jewish artists. Of
time ago. He was in his early 20s when he assumed positions the World Jewish Congress, I course, the number is small as compared with all the Jewish
of leadership in fund-raising. Within a short time, he became left Paris for Morocco to con- i Community Centers affiliated with JWB, and with the non-
deeply interested in many of our social service agencies. He
fer with Moroccan and Jewish affiliated Jewish centers. However, the few mentioned by Mr.
became a leader in the Federation and in its fund-raising instru- leaders on the possibility of a ! Postal may serve as an example and inspiration to the hundreds
ment, the Detroit Service Group. The Allied Jewish Campaign resumption of emigration of of others. There is really no reason why those who plan and
always looked to him for guidance and leadership. His untimely Moroccan Jews who desire to direct Jewish centers should also not include in their plans
death this week removes from the community's scene a truly leave the country. the acquisition of Jewish art for their centers.
tireless worker and a devoted leader. Blessed be his memory.

Tu b`Shevat—A Minor But Interesting Festival
Next Wednesday will be Tu b'Shevat—referred to more
frequently as Hamisha Asar b'Shevat—the 15th day of the
Hebrew month Shevat observed traditionally as Jewish Arbor
Day, or the Israeli New Year of the Trees.
Not only in the Holy Land, whence this festival stems, but
wherever Jewish communities function, Hamisha Asar has been
observed by Jews partaking of fruits that grow in Eretz Israel—
dates, figs, pomegranates, St. John's bread (bokser).
In olden times„ the festival was observed by the planting
of trees, a practice that is again in vogue in Israel.
The custom in Jerusalem was to plant a cedar tree upon the
birth of a male child, and cyprus tree when a girl was born.
These trees or their branches were used to make the posts for
the canopies at the marriages of these youths.
It is because the tree is looked upon with great respect
as the noblest symbol in life that tree-planting has become so
significant a practice in Jewish life. Not only is the righteous
person compared, in Psalm 1:3, to a fruitful tree planted near
a river, but in Deuteronomy 20:19 there is the admonition not
to cut down a tree even in war, thus:
"When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making
war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees there-
of by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of
them, but thou shalt not cut them down; for it is the tree of
the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?"

MacMillan Denies Britain
Seeks '47 Border Solution

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