By SAU L CARSON
JTA Correspondent at the United Nations
(Copyright, 1959. Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.- shall always be free and open,
No member of the United Na- in time of war as in time
tions has been aggrieved more of peace, to every vessel of
openly by another member than commerce or of war, without
Israel has been through Egypt's distinCtion of flag.. Conse-
blockade of the Suez Canal. No quently, the high contracting
nation—with the possible excep- parties agree not in any way
tion of India, which has flaunt- to interfere with the free use
ed repeated Security Council of the canal, in time of war
resolutions affecting the Kash- as in time of peace. The canal
mir case—has defied UN reso- shall never be subjected to
lutions more openly, more con- the exercise of the right of
sistently and more flagrantly blockade."
than Egypt has in the case of
We jump almost 63 years. It
the anti-Israeli blockade of the is September 1, 1951 — eight
Canal. And, in the face of such years ago this month. The U.N.
persistent violation of its rights, Security Council has finished
no member has been as patient long debate of an Israeli com-
as Israel has been. Now that plaint against Egypt's blockade
patience is at an end. This year, of the Suez Canal. A resolution
at the current session of the is voted, unanimously—even the
General Assembly, Israel in- Soviet Union is for it. The reso-
tends to break its Suez case lution specifically backs up
wide open.
rael's complaints, enjoins Egypt
Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel's For- by name, declares outright in
eign Minister, is sure to go into its final paragraph that the Se-
the Suez issue fully when she curity Council:
addresses a plenary session of
"Calls upon Egypt to termi-
the Assembly during "general nate the restrictions on the
debate." That "debate" consists passage of international com-
of a series of statements on for- mercial shipping and goods
eign policy by the heads of the through the Suez Canal wher-
various delegations. No issue is ever bound . • "
of greater urgency for Israel
We come now to 1956. In the
right now than its grievance office of the Secretary General
against Egypt's actions in the here, an effort is made to re-
Suez.
solve the differences regarding
• Mrs. Meir may have another the Suez between Britain,
opportunity to expound her gov- France and Egypt. After much
ernment's Suez grievances. At bargaining, a "declaration of
any time during the life of the principles" is adopted. Egypt ac-
Assembly session, Israel could cepts the declaration. On Octo-
propose an additional item on ber 13, 1956, the Security Coun-
the Assembly agenda. Under cil—again unanimously—adopts
the Assembly's rules of pro- this declaration in the form of
cedure, a member state that pro- a resolution. Two of the six
poses an additional item for the principles read as follows:
agenda has the right to appear
"There should be free and
before the Assembly's steering
committee to back up the re- open transit through the canal
quest. If Israel should propose without discrimination, overt
that the Suez issue be added to and covert—this covers both
the Assembly's formal agenda, political and technical aspects
Mrs. Meir, according to the . . . The operation of the ca-
rules, "shall be entitled to at- nal should be insulated from
tend any meeting (of the Steer- the politics of any country."
A few months later, Israel is
ing Committee) at which its re-
being
pressed in the General
quest is discussed, and may par-
ticipate without vote, in the Assembly to withdraw its troops
from the Sinai Desert. Israel
discussion of that item."
refuses to budge until and un-
* *
Israel's rights to freedom of less it is given certain guaran-
shipping through the Suez Canal tees. Finally, on March 1, 1957,
are clear and clearly recognized Israel announces here that it is
by the United Nations. The withdrawing its Sinai troops—
United Nations and all its mem- but only after it has cleared
bers, including the United Arab certain "assumptions" with the
Republic, recognize the validity United States Department of
of the Constantinople Conven- State and with President Eisen-
tion of October 29, 1888 "re- hower himself. One of those
specting the free navigation of "assumptions" is given validity
the Suez Canal." It is relevant in a statement by Mr. Eisen-
at this time to recall Article I hower to the effect that, if
of that Convention, which reads: Egypt should try again to prac-
"The Suez Maritime Canal tice a blockade in the Suez,
America will consider the ac-
tion a matter of concern to the
"society of nations."
6;e1,6-0/0
Finally, on April 24, 1957,
Egypt files a formal declaration
GUTTER GUARD with the Secretary General, and
this declaration is formally
Adaptable to all type gutters
registered, at Egypt's request,
as a commitment filed with the
United Nations. The opening
paragraph of this declaration
reads:
COVERS GUTTER
COMPtETEL
PERMANENT; y
Keeps Leaves Out of Gutters
Prevents Plugging of Sewers
KEEPS OUT leaves, branches,
birds' nests, balls.
PREVENTS clogged gutters,
down spouts, sewers, dry
wells, water damage to house
and shrubbery, icing in win-
ter. . „-
For further information write
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LOCKHART MFG. CORP.
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"It remains the unaltered
policy and firm purpose of
the Government of Egypt to
respect the terms and the
spirit of the Constantinople
Convention of 1888 and the
rights and obligations arising
therefrom. The Government
of Egypt will continue to re-
spect, observe and implement
them,"
* *
This is only part of the dos-
sier, But these are the basic
documents guiding Israel's case.
By flaunting these repeated_
treaties, conventions and even
its o w n declaration, Egypt
stands condemned before the
world. Whether Mrs. Meir will
elicit any formal action from
this year's Assembly, in the face
of this record—that remains to
be seen.
Insult to Blum Holds Up Sale of Paris Dictionary
PARIS. (JTA) — A French
court ordered the withholding
from sale of 300,000 copies of
the 1960 edition of "Petit La-
rousse," French best-selling dic-
tionary, for presenting Leon
Blum, the late Jewish Premier
of France, in an anti-Semitic
light.
The dictionary alleged that
Blum's real name was Karful-
kenstein, and characterized him
in terms which his family and
friends considered as having
the same anti-Semitic undertone
as when French anti-Semites
claimed before the war that
Blum was of Bulgarian origin.
Blum, who was born in Paris in
1872, came from an Alsatian-
Jewish family that has been
French for at least 200 years.
In court, the Larousse pub-
lishers admitted that errors had
been made in presenting Blum's
biography and apologized to the
Blum family. The publishers ex-
plained the errors were made
by a man whom they fired a
year ago for inserting false
information. They offered to
paste corrections in all copies
in stock and in the hands of
bookstores. The court ordered
that no copies should be sold
before the correction is made.
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15 —THE DETR OIT JE WISH NEWS — Frida y, O ctober 2, 1959
Suez Record Is Clear