Friday, February 7, 1958—T HE DETRO IT JEWISH NEWS-2

Purely Commentary

liVeird Species of Doulbletalk' Charged
•
to Arab Propagandists in This Country

PHILADELPHIA, (JTA) — Burma, and other new nations. co-ordinated new policy includ-
Speaking before a conference ing discussion of aregional arms
Details of Arab propaganda in
with Russia, a guaran-
There was a very interesting exchange of views on United the United States were made on Middle East development embargo
tee
against
forceful change of
sponsored
by
the
Middle
East
public
by
Prof.
James
B.
Shel-
States foreign policy and on our Government's attitude toward
borders,
increased
economic aid
Institute,
the
Senator
stated:
"It
don,
administrative
chairman
of
Israel, in the course of a debate in the U. S. House of Repre-
the Non-Secretarian Anti-Nazi would be helpful if a few people and establishment of, a compre-
sentatives.
Middle East develop-
California's Democratic Congressman James Roosevelt was League, addressing a conference started to say what is indeed hensive authority
by the free
discussing Middle East issues, when Michigan's Republican Con- of Middle East experts at the the fact—that many of the prob- ment
gressman Alvin M. Bentley posed a question in which he charged University of Pennsylvania un- lembs of the Middle East exist- world.
Eric Johnston, who has
that former Secretary of State Dean Acheson was anti-Israel. der auspices of the Zionist Or- ed long before the State of Is-
rael was established, and that served as special Presidential
Here is the verbatim report of the question and the reply, taken ganization of America.
The conference was also ad- they would continue to exist envoy to the Middle East, told
from the Jan. 27 Congressional Record:
dressed by two members of the independent of the so-called the conference that the Arabs
Mr. Roosevelt. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
fear Israel more than Com-
Mr. Bentley. I should like to ask the gentleman one ques- Israel delegation to the United `Palestine question'."
munism. He said many Arabs
tion along this line as long as we are discussing the Middle Nations. Arthur C. A. Liveran,
He said that too often
feel Israel eventually will be
East, and it has to do again with our good friend, Mr. Acheson. one of these members, reviewed Americans looked at the Mid-
liquidated. According to Mr.
When he appeared before the Committee on Foreign Affairs Israel's foreign policy against dle East "almost exclusively"
Johnston, the Soviet Union
about a year ago in connection with our hearing on the Eisen- the background of the latest de- in terms of the Arab-Israel
was exploiting such Arab at-
hower doctrine he indicated in his prepared statement grave velopments in the East - West dispute. He thought "the
titudes.
and serious doubt in his own mind as to the wisdom of this struggle. He said that as long United States must stop hem-
Government's having participated in the establishment of Is- as the cold war between East ming and hawing, playing
Chairman James Terry Duce
rael as an independent nation. I was so interested that I ques- and West continues, existing both sides of the street as ruled discussion of the Arab
tioned him when it came my turn to make sure that was what animosity between the Arab though the right hand can be refugee question "out of order"
he meant. At greater length he repeated that there was doubt states and Israel will be ex- separated from the left." He when a conference souf?ht to
in his own mind as to the wisdom of whether we should ever ploited by the bloc interested added that he still did not raise the issue from the floor.
have been responsible for the creation of Israel in the Middle in using instability anywhere to know what the State Depart- The conferee, taking the Arab
gain domination.
East. I should like to ask my friend from California to join
ment's actual attitude toward side, demanded to know why
Those intent on blocking such Egyptian President Nasser the conference had not taken
with me in my 100-percent disagreement with Mr. Acheson's
a spread of anti-Western influ- might be."
statement at that time.
up the Arab refugee problem.
Mr. Roosevelt. I most certainly join in disagreement with ence in the Middle East must be
Duce said it was a "thorny prob-
"T
h
e
Administration
has
ready
therefore
to
take
counter-
it. I believe in recognizing Israel, being the first nation to
lem" and thought progress was
failed
to
meet
the
challenge"
measures
before
it
is
too
late,"
do so, in helping in the United Nations to pass the United
being made in viewing it in
in
the
Middle
East,
Sen.
Hum-
Nations Resolution, which of course was passed by an over- Liveran stated.
human rather than political
phrey
declared.
He
asserted
Arieh Eilan, the other mem-
whelming majority of the nations of the world, that we did
terms.
strike a blow for democracy and freedom, and that we did ber of the Israel delegation to that "the President has given
Israel's economic achieve-
indication of freeing himself
the right thing and the just thing. I hope that our present the - UN, reported on Israel's re- no
ments were lauded at the con-
from,
or
even
being
very
alert
Asia
policy, which seems to indicate that perhaps we have a little lations with countries of
ference by A. J. Meyer, asso-
doubt as to whether we did the right thing, is also wrong, and Africa. He stressed that to, the disastrous, irrevelant, ciate director of the Harvard
and
unrealistic
policies
pursued
and that the time has come to drop that neutralism and to "the conception of Afro-Asia during the past five years in the University Center for Middle
come out and support what I think is our best ally by all does not exist as a political re-
Eastern Studies.
odds in the Middle East. I hope the gentleman will agree ality, as in fact the countries of Middle East." He called for a
Asia and Africa have a differ- ■
■ 0■
■ •••■■
with me in that statement.
■
■
Mr. Bentley. I certainly do, and I do not think the present ent historical background and a
different set of problems to
administration has expressed the doubt that Acheson had.
Boris Smolar's
It is clear that Congressmen Bentley and Roosevelt agree cope with today. It is only in
in principle on Israel's right to exist. But the concessions that the United Nations where some-
are constantly made to the Arabs by our gi -ate = Department is times Asian countries and some
not conducive to peace in the 'lq-iddle East. There is good reason African states vote on a com-
to believe that some of the Democratic predecessors -the mon basis."
present Administration in Washington contributed a g
rof. Sheldon charged that
(Copyright, 1958,
toward enmity to Israel. Dean Acheson's attitudes
nda agent's of the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
point. While Rep. Bentley may be claiming too mt
including certain
_
•
friendship for Israel by his party.
organizations that D a n ger - Sigenals
State Departmene_.- _the anti-Israel position ei;.16 r - act...
,,low wok line, have adopt-
The merger of Syria and Egypt into a "United Arab State"
In Dean Acheson's case, fortunately, the Presiden
ed a weird species of double- will pose serious problems for Israel's security, as it will for the
whom he served overcame some of the antagonisms. Harry Tru- talk designed to make it false- present regime in Jordan . . . Syria and Egypt have no common
man reaffirmed the sincerity of his belief in Israel's right to ly appear that the "Arab frontier and can thus not be united territorially unless they swal-
survival on several recent occasions. It would be well for the story" is being kept out of the low up Jordan, or make an attempt to grab Israeli territory . .
Achesons now to admit the error of their previous ways.
American press because of In either case Israel will from now on have to be on the alert,
some kind of presumably "sin- ready for any possible military developments . . • At present it
Fantastic Scheme: Olives at Dimona
ister control" exercised by the seems that the union between Syria and Egypt threatens Jordan
In Israel, we were told that Dimona was to be one of .the - Israelis.
more than Israel . . . The merger of the two pro-Soviet Arab
southernmost cities in the Jewish State. We went to see its
"The facts are exactly the countries is in fact a threat not only to Jordan, but also to Iraq
beginnings and, in the heart of the desert in the Central Negev reverse," he declared. "Each and Saudi Arabia . . . It is a bold challenge by two Arab coun-
Highlands—there was only sand around us for several miles— one of the Arab governments tries which have no kings to three Arab lands which are ruled
we saw a few huts on a hill. This, we were told, is soon to be has its own propaganda set-up by monarchs . . The thrones of these three Arab kings will
a great city.
in this country—and besides, begin to shake shortly should the Syrian-Egypt merger prove
We had just come from Beersheba which had truly been the Arab League maintains an successful ... Under such circumstances it would be most logical
transformed into a great community within a very few years. elaborate press relations office, for Jordan to start talking peace to Israel and free its armed
From a population of several hundred less than seven years ago representing the group as a forces from duty on the Israel frontier to guard her frontier
it has grown into a city of more than 40,000 people, with all the whole. There is no shortage of on the Syrian side where Jordan is most vulnerable • . . It would
facilities of a great center—ample transportation, good restau- money here—as everyone who also be most logical to expect the rulers of Iraq and Saudi Arabia
rants, fine hotels (including the • impressive Hias Hostel).
has heard about the oil riches to cease their vitriolic anti-Israel propaganda . . . However, one
has to be too great an optimist to anticipate such developments,
Now, the news comes that the Jewish National Fund is of these lands knows.
sponsoring an experiment in olive planting—mainly for indus-
"In addition, an organization since no Arab leader—no matter how much his country may
trial purposes—at Dimona.
called the Arab Refugee Com- benefit from peace with Israel—will dare to tell his people that
The initial experiment is to be on a 200-dunam plot. The mittee maintains offices in New the time has come for negotiations with Israel . . . Thus, Jordan
JNF informs us that these plantations require relatively little York, as an agency of four of may go down the drain rather than admit that she could save
water for irrigation-40 to 50 cbm. per dunam per annum as these governments. This outfit her independence by establishing peaceful relations with Israel.
against an average of 500 cbm. for citrus in the Coastal Plain does not hesitate to direct per-
or 2,000 cbm. for bananas in the Jordan Valley. The aim of this sonal and vindictive attacks Diplomatic Notes
Israel does not boast about the excellence of its Foreign
experiment, JNF officials say, is to cover with olives about against respected public figures,
10,000 dunams of dry desert stretching from Dimona westward even including former President Service, but has every reason to do so ... From my intimate con-
to Sdeh Boker. For this project the JNF has prepared, in one Harry S. Truman, who have tact with Israel's ambassadors to Britain, France and other
of its tree nurseries, seedlings of a species introduced from dared to act in accord with true countries, I can assert that countries older and larger than
Tunisia by J. Weitz, head of the JNF Land and Development true American interests in the Israel have few such gifted representatives . Not to speak of
Ambassador Abba Eban, whose brilliance can perhaps be matched
Department, which grows in the neighborhood of the Tunisian Middle Eastern area."
town of Sfax under conditions similar to the Negev. It yields
Other speakers at the confer- only by a very few of the top-ranking diplomats of lands which
valuable fruit and comes to fruition in a comparatively short ence included Dr. Nasrollah S. play the leading role in shaping the world's destiny . . One
time.
Fatemi, former member of the of Israel's 'envoys who is captivating New York is Simcha Pratt,
That's the JNF story, and a skeptical observer might insist Irianian Parliament and the the new Consul General . . . A newcomer to New York—he
that such experiments can not succeed. But the JNF and the Iranian delegation to the United previously served as Israel Consul General in Chicago—Pratt has,
Israel government—the pioneers who stubbornly undertook what Nations, who reviewed the most within a short time, become one of the Most beloved of Israeli
others considered the impossible in Israel—already have shown recent developments in the representatives . . • A charming person who_ radiates warmth, he
that they can conquer the desert. They are doing it in the Negev. Arab world, and Harold P. Man- cements goodwill for Israel in many circles and provokes great
They did it in the Beersheba area. They accomplished the im- son, executive vice-chairman of respect for the country which he represents . . . He is sought
possible in the previously malaria-ridden Galil. Therefore we the ZOA Department of Public after by many organizations to present the needs of Israel, and
he - fulfills this mission very effectively and with dignified simpli-
believe that at Dimona, the hot desert spot where the Jews are Infirmation.
city . The son of a leading Jewish industrialist in Rovno, who
undertaking to build another city, we shall one day see vegeta-
took an active interest in Jewish cultural and philanthropic
Sen. Humphrey Criticizes
- tion, prosperous industries, great human developments.
affairs, Pratt was raised in the finest Jewish tradition . .. His
U. S. Arming of Arabs;
That's how Israelis create miracles in the desert.
father, founder and owner of the famous "Bergshloss' brewery,
Wants Borders Guaranteed
even built his own synagogue . . _Pratt came to Palestine in
WASHINGTON,
(JTA)
The-New Proselytizing Schemes in Jewry
1926 as a 14-year-old youth . • . He later studied in Switzerland
—Chairman
Hubert
H.
Hum-
First Rabbi Ira Eisenstein, Reconstructionist spokesman, pro-
and obtained his law degree from the University of London,
posed that we convert prominent Christians to Judaism—in order phrey of the Senate Foreign being
called to the English bar in .1937 . . . However, he went
Relations
subcommittee
on
the
to popularize our faith.
back to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv where he practiced law
Near
East
criticized
the
U.
S.
Then the eminent scholar, Dr. Robert Gordis, came forth
Administration's failure to meet and joined the Haganah • .. During the War of Liberation he
with an idea that we seek to convert the Japanese to Judaism.
the Soviet challenge in the Mid- was an officer in the Israel Army and was seriously wounded
What fantasies!
in action . . . In 1953 he joined Israel's Foreign Service and was
We need at the outset to make Jews more keenly aware of dle East. He lauded Israel's soon assigned to the post of Consul General in Chicago . . . He
"midget
Point
Four
program"
their faith before we start proselytizing others!
held this post for four years, winning many friends for Israel,
Dear Rabbis: isn't there enough to do among our own before by which Israel is extending in the 15 states of the Middle West and Middle South.
technical
assistance
to
Ghana,
seeking notoriety elsewhere?

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

U.S. Foreign Policy, Acheson and Israel

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'Between You
... and Me'

