Purely Commentary
Will Middle East
Be an Issue in the
Political Campaign?
Boycott Threat
`Distresses' Jews
of South Africa
By Philip
Slomovitz
'Words That Are Nullified by Actions'--Sen. Gruening
Our prestige as a nation has been injured by the cancella- Challenges Nixon and Administration on Arab Boycott
The Threat to World Peace
tion of President Eisenhower's visit to Tokyo.
The tragedy of this incident, as well as of the insults that
were hurled at our President by Khrushchev in Paris a month
earlier, is that they represent evidences of threats to world peace.
Is it wise for our President to become a traveling emissary
to foreign nations?
The - late Secretary of State John Foster Dulles similarly was
challenged when he spent more time abroad than he did in his
office in the State Department.
The new developments on the international scene are certain
to be major issues in the political campaign that will start with
the Democratic convention in Los Angeles next month.
Serious decisions will have to be made by the voters in the
November election, and it becomes the responsibility of the
nation's leaders to enlighten the people on the issues at hand.
* * *
Senator Fulbright's Views on Middle East Problems
JOHANNESBURG, (JTA) —
The "overwhelming majority"
of South African Jews would
be "distressed" by a boycott of
the Union of South Africa by
any Israeli organization "and
profoundly trusts that this will
never happen," a spokesman of
the Board of Deputies of South
African Jews declared.
The statement was made to
the Afrikaans newspaper, "Dag-
breek," in reply to a request
from the periodical for com-
ment on a report that Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion sup-
Mr. GRUENING. The Senator knows, of course,' that not only are
these acts against Israel acts of economic aggression, but that economic
ported in the Knesset, a pro-
aggression reaches into our own country and tells us whom American
posal by Histadrut chief Pinhas
companies doing business in the Middle East shall employ, carrying
Lavon for a boycott of South
this dictation sometimes to the second and third degree. In addition,
these Arab countries frankly declare that they are at war with Israel.
Africa over its apartheid
Consequently, it seems to me the policy of the United States should
policies.
be crystal clear and that these noble declarations of high principle
should be buttressed by action.
action, which we are capable of taking, due,
The spokesman was Edel
or loan our American taxpayers'
in large part, to the right to
Horowitz, chairman of the Zion-
dollars where we wish. The President is given discretionary power to
withhold such grants or loans. We can expect he will not heed the
ist Federation, who told the
wishes of Congress; that we shall continue to hear high-sounding state-
newspaper that while South
ments by the Vice President and other administration officials about
principles, but we may fear that no action will be taken to carry out African Jews had no authority
those principles.
over Histadrut policies, he felt
Mr. LONG of Louisiana. As one Senator who previously voted
that relations between South
against the amendment which stated it was the sense of the Senate
that no loan should be made to Egypt so long as she denied the ships
Africa and Israel were cordial
of any country free passage through the canal, I must say had the
and that all persons concerned
matter been pinpointed as clearly as the Senator from Alaska has
done in his speech, I would have been compelled to vote the other way.
hope they would remain that
Mr. GRUENING. One is always grateful for a convert. How simple,
way.
therefore, if the administration means what it says and the Vice Presi-
He added that Ben-Gurion's
dent wishes to square actions with words to see that this policy is
strictly carried out and that there is no aid to nations engaged in
comment had been incorrectly
what they declare to be a war, an integral tactic of which is the
reported and that what had
denial of the use of the international waterway called the Suez Canal,
to whose owners the United States recently helped give $50 million.
been under discussion was not
I repeat that that action, authorized and sanctioned by the administra-
a boycott but a protest against
tion, speaks far louder than any words, no matter how often uttered
events in South Africa. Horo-
or affirmed.
Much too often, candidates for political offices enunciate witz said that Ben-Gurion had
principles which they fail to fulfill when in office. Right now, supported the Histadrut lead-
we are listening to affirmations on the eve of an election. Are er's right to protest but had at
we to continue to hear "words that are nullified by actions," the same time clearly dissoci-
or are we on the eve of a new era, during which the utterers ated the Israel government from
of pledges for justice to Israel will turn their platforms into that protest.
"There is no question of the
realities?
Last week, editorially, we expressed the hope that even Israel government engaging in
before the November election our Vice President will help, as a or sanctioning a boycott of
member of the present administration, put into effect the ideas South Africa," he declared. "On
expressed in his letter to Label Katz. As we stated in the edi- the contrary, the government
torial: "It is the best way of proving that it is a sacred obliga- and the people of Israel are
tion rather than a political weapon." Anti-Israelis and Arab anxious to establish the closest
propagandists already are calling the letter a political weapon. trade relations with South Af-
Let there be immediate proof that it is not so, that it is an rica. As chairman of the Zionist
earnest declaration of policy, that it is an obligation not of one federation, I can confirm that
member of the administration but the entire government, and we are anxious to do everything
that the views of the Senate will be honored—by demanding possible to promote the tradi-
adherence by Nasser to the international rules of the freedom tional bonds of friendship and
of the seas, before any of our dollars go to him to help him understanding between Israel
nullify those rules and defy the views of the American people and South Africa, and we hope
they will endure forever."
as expressed by a majority vote of the Senate.
Senator Ernest Gruening of Alaska, in an address in which
he analyzed the letter of Vice President Nixon to Bnai Brith
President Label Katz, challenged the Eisenhower administration
on its Middle East policies, and deplored words that are nullified
by actions.
Senator Russell B. Long of Louisiana, who was among the
minority that voted against the amendment to the Mutual
Security Act requiring the President to use discretionary powers
to withhold assistance from nations waging economic warfare
against other nations receiving aid under this Act, entered into
a lengthy discussion with the Alaska Senator over the issue.
Senator Gruening was one of the majority that supported the
amendment as a protest against the Arab boycott of Israel. The
following is a portion of the stenographic Senate report of the
discussion that ensued between Senators Gruening and Long:
Will the Middle East issue be injected in the battle for the
Presidency?
Senator Kennedy already has made it a part of his platform
with his demand, `in his Senate address on foreign policies, that
action should be taken to "hasten the inevitable Arab acceptance
of the permanence of Israel."
By repudiating the Arab boycott of Israel and by endorsing
free passage for Israeli ships through the Suez Canal, Vice
President Nixon similarly has taken a stand in Israel's defense.
Arab spokesmen did not wait long to condemn the declara-
tions of American leaders. They followed an established line by
accusing the defenders of Israel's rights of being vote-seekers
and tools of the Zionists.
A statement of major importance on the Middle East situa-
tion was made in an address in the Senate by the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator J. W. Fuibright.
The Arkansas Democrat, reporting on his six-and-a-half-day
Middle East visit last month, called that area's conflict "the most
all-pervasive situation" influencing American policy. He called
the situation "crucial" and made the personal observation that
the Egyptian and Israeli leaders were "considerably more ra-
tional" when they spoke privately than when they uttered public
announcements.
Senator Fuibright, reporting on the refugee problem, pro-
posed that "the Israelis agree to repatriation or compensation as
the United Nations has recommended, with the understanding
that the numbers who might accept repatriation would be of
manageable size over a period of years;" and that "the Arabs
could indicate a willingness to help resettle those who might
decide against repatriation, if reasonable compensation is agreed
upon."
Two declarations by Senator Fuibright are especially vital
to the discussion of the issue. He said that the Arabs should
"reconsider the view that refugees are a political asset to be
used against Israel and an economic liability in Arab lands.
The Arabs must realize that to seem to make refugees serve
a political purpose will in time become counter-productive."
Re also stated that peaceful economic and political develop-
ment in the Middle East required acceptance by the Arab states
that the world "could not stand idly aside" if they tried to
drive the Israelis into the sea and acceptance by Israel that WiCongress to Form
expansion of her borders by force "will not be tolerated."
While Senator Fulbright's efforts for peace between the two N. American Section
kindred peoples in the Middle East deserve sincere appreciation,
The World Jewish Congress
there are misunderstandings, to which he has fallen victim, that will estblish a North American
must be clarified. In the first place, talk of Israeli expansion has Section in the fall of this year.
been and remains sheer Arab propaganda. Israel's leaders have
Samuel Bronfman, chairman
repudiated the views of a very small minority in the Jewish State
who express hopes for an Israel on both sides of the Jordan. of WJC's North American ex-
Israel has affirmed and reaffirmed a policy requiring guarantees ecutive, w i 1
of the present border. This implies an acceptance of the present present a pro-
territorial status of the county, except for possible adjustments, gram for the
new Section
by agreement, of certain unrealistic border areas, as in the at a meeting
regrettable Triangle that was created as a result of the Arab war
of the WJC's:
on Israel.
administrative
Then there is the matter of public pronouncements which, as committee:.. in
Senator Fulbright said, are less rational than those made to him Paris this
privately. It is heartening to know that there is rationality in week.
Nasser's private approaches, but, insofar as the incitements to
B r o ofman, l
hatred are concerned, Senator Fuibright would do well to become
acquainted with the type of anti,-Israel propaganda that has been who is
spread, and continues to be disseminated, by Arab leaders. He or es ident of EBSTEIN
will find that these appeals to hatred have never been matched the Canadian Jewish Congress,
said that the new Section will
by similar and equal rashness and bitterness from Israeli sources.
be directed by Yehuda Ebstein,
In his report of Senator Fulbright's speech, in the New York formerly on the staff . of Bran-
Times, Dana Adams Schmidt stated:
deis University. Both Mr. Bronf-
"Diplomatic analysts said that the weakness in Senator man and Mr. Ebstein will at-
Fulbright's proposal was that it assumed a desire for peaceful tend the Paris meeting.
settlement on both sides. While the Israelis have expressed
such a desire, the Arabs still insist that they intend to destroy
Lehmans Gift for
Israel."
Many of the current indications are that such an analysis is
NY Children's Zoo
correct, and that peace is not to be hoped for too soon. Never-
. NEW YORK, (JTA) —
theless Senator Fulbright's formula—to "move the problem off
Former Sen. Herbert H.
dead center" so that there might be "quiet, off-the-record conver-
Lehman and Mrs. Lehman
sations"—is to be heartily welcomed. If he and others will strive
have donated $550,000 to the
for it, peace may come sooner than expected. Conversations with
City of New York for the
the Arabs, in the hope of attaining peace, is what Israel has been
establishment of a children's
pleading for. Perhaps Senator Fuibright may yet be among those
zoo in Central Park. The gift
who will make his formula a workable reality.
was made to mark the Leh-
In any event, when the issue becomes a matter of public
man's 50th wedding anniver-
debate, during the approaching political campaign, it is important
sary.
that right should be separated from wrong, that Americans should
The Department of Parks
not be misled into believing that justice for Israel is merely a
Said here that the zoo will
vote-getting scheme or that this is a battle between Zionists and
be built adjacent to the ex-
Arabs. The issue is one of eventual attainment of peace in the
isting zoo and would include
Middle East. Such a peace will contribute towards assuring
such tame animals as rabbits,
peace for the entire world, It is for such objectives that we must
ducks, geese, doves, lambs,
strive, and it is towards such ends that those who mould Amer-
and deer.
ican foreign policy must be guided.
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Boris Smolar's
Between You
and Me' I
(Copyright, 1960,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Personality Profile
A new and most promising chapter in the history of the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency — the only worldwide Jewish news
agency — is now being opened by Eleazar Lipsky, its new presi-
dent . . . Young and able, Lipsky has gained a high reputation
in many fields of public endeavor . . . He is a brilliant practicing
lawyer and a member of the Federal Bar Association . . . He is
the author of a number of novels, five of which were the choice
of various book clubs, including the Book of the Month Club,
the Literary Guild, the Mystery Guild and others .. . He is an
excellent speaker, having won medals for oratory in his college
days and even in his high school days . . He is deeply inter-
ested in Jewish affairs, actively participating in the Zionist move-
ment, American Jewish Congress, American Friends of the
Hebrew University, and other groups . .. He was an editor of
the New Palestine and writer of a syndicated newspaper column
. . . He devoted two years to lecturing for the United Jewish
Appeal and other Jewish causes.
*
*
Like Father, Like Son
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency is especially fortunate to
have Lipsky as its president inasmuch as he has been following
the work of the JTA since his student days . . . He understands
the mission of the JTA not only as a news agency, but also as
an institution which serves as the link between Jewish commu-
nities throughout the free world . . To him, the JTA is not
only "the eyes and ears of the Jewish people," but also the
institution which reflects impartially Jewish life in all its nuances
. . . The importance of the JTA to the Jews in this country as
well as in other countries is clear to him because of his family
background . . . His father, Louis Lipsky, a former president
of the Zionist Organization of America, is one of the best
essayists in the English-Jewish field . . . A brother of Eleazar
Lipsky, David, is a well-known publicist, and another brother,
Joel, is knOwn as a linguist and historian who translated and
adapted Sukhanov's The Russian Revolution," published by the
Oxford University Press . . . representative of the. second-
generatiOn American JeWs,.Eleazar Lipsky is the perfect example
of the .374nnot, Jews .in . country . mho combine the ideals. of
American tfeinocracyand thbSe •of the Jewish=heritage:,---,------4--