Job Placement and Civil Service Problems Problem of Unity in American Jewry THE JEWISIINWS cz) 7- A Weekly Review Editorial Page 4 of Jewish Events Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper—Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle VOL. XLIV, No. 9 Printed in a 100% Union Shop 1 7 1 00 Commentary Page 2 Dr. Freehof Explores 'Recent Reform Responsa' Review on Page 4 W. 7 Mile Rd. — VE 8-9364 — Detroit 35, October 25, 1963—$6.00 Per Year; This Issue 20c Religious Strife Emerges as Major Israel Issue; Seek to Avert Split Escapees from Nazis Had Roads Blocked by Military Chiefs By MILTON FRI EDMAN Copyright, 1963, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc. WASHINGTON — The United States military chiefs of staff in 1943 actually opposed the movement of Jewish escapees from Nazi Europe to Allied territory, it was revealed in the recent publication of previously secret State Department archives. Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, in a letter to Secretary of State Cordell Hull on April 26, 1943, strongly urged rejection of a plan for moving Jewish refugees from occupied Europe via Spain to North Africa. The U.S. chiefs of staff felt "the influx of a considerable group of Jewish refu- gees to North Africa might cause such resentment on the part of the Arab popu- lation as to necessitate military action to maintain order." Admiral Leahy, speaking officially for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that "the immediate proposal is to transport some 3,000 to 5,000 refugees, largely Jewish and of enemy nationality or stateless, to North Africa . .. It is reasonable to expect, therefore, that there will be sim- ilar proposals to transport increased in- crements of refugees to North Africa in the future." The U.S. chiefs of staff, he said, objected because of Arab sentiment, ship- ping limitations, food problems, and the "added and unwarranted administrative responsibility on the supreme comman- der in North Africa." Pressed to reconsider their decision, the U.S. chiefs of staff on May 7, 1943, "decided to adhere to the views expressed in their previous letter." The State Department files just made public reveal that the United States Gov- ernment response to the plight of Eur- ope's Jews. was marked by bureaucratic inefficiency, ineptitude, indifference, and other responses ranging from ineffectual goodwill to actual opposition. The greatest lack of compassion was indicated by the U.S. chiefs of staff. These high-ranking officers were fully aware of the death camps at that time and the true peril of the Jews. A secret aide-memoire presented in 1943 by the British Embassy to the State Department indicated the stand of the United Kingdom. It voiced fear that "there is a possibility that the Germans or their satellites may change over from the policy of extermination to one of extrusion, and aim as they did before the war at embarrassing other countries by flooding them with alien immigrants." The British were vexed by Jewish concern. The British Embassy told the State Department: "The refugee problem cannot be treated as though it were a wholly Jewish problem which could be handled by Jewish agencies or by machin- ery only adapted for assisting Jews. There are so many non-Jewish refugees and there is' so much acute suffering among non-Jews in Allied countries that Allied criticism would probably result if any marked preference were shown in remov- Continued on. Page 3 Direct JTA Teletype Wires to The Jewish News JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Levi Eshkol Tuesday called for mutual understanding and respect and warned against the danger of a split within the nation over religious issues. Addressing the groundbreaking ceremonies for a new cultural hall at Yad Binyamin settlement, named for the late Poalei Agudat Israel Cabinet Minister Binyamin Mintz, the Premier said: "The fact that we are isolated, forces us to be equipped with knowledge and wisdom and, above all, with the love of Israel and the love of one brother to another." Religious leaders at the gathering stressed the need for unity in the nation and opposed co- ercion of any kind, but appealed to the government to see that religious feelings are honored and ways found to avert Sabbath incidents. In his Initial address to the Knesset on Monday, upon the opening of Parliament's winter ses- sion, Eshkol touched upon the demonstrations by Sabbath observers and their opponents. He criticized sharply "the use of violence that leads to violence," declaring that both secularists and the ultra-zealous "are wrong." In matters of conscience and religion, he said, Israel society "is founded on a pact of mutual tolerance which found expressions in our Proclamation of Independence, which guaranteed that every man shall live according to his own conscience in his own house, in his homeland." "The public realm," he asserted, "will be protected by the government." Klausenberg Rebbe Reverses Decision—Yields to Request He Remain in Israel TEL AVIV—Rabbi Yekutiel Halberstam, the Rebbe of Klausenberg, who announced Monday that he planned to leave Israel permanently because of continued strife over Sabbath violations in Jerusalem, reversed himself Tuesday and will remain in Israel. The Hassidic leader, who settled in Israel four years ago with a group of his followers, changed his mind about returning to the United States after considerable pressure was exerted on him by Israeli rabbinical leaders, Ministers, Jewish Agency executive chairman Moshe Sharett, arid Natanya Mayor Benami, who sent an urgent letter to the Rebbe. The sect made its home in Kiryat Tzanz near Natanya. Rabbi Halberstam cancelled a reservation on a flight to New York for Wednesday morning. As soon as his decision was made known Monday, urgent telegrams asking him to change his mind were sent by Zorach Warhaftig, the Minister for Religious Affairs, Interior Minister and Religious Party Leader Moshe Shapiro and Sharett. The three officials suggested some solution might be reach- ed in the Sabbath problem which the Rebbe had told his flock was costing him his health. He will meet soon with Israeli leaders to seek a solution to various religious problems in Israel, including the issue of missionary activities. Arch Enemy of Israel Busy in U.S. By SAUL CARLSON Jewish News and JTA Correspondent at the United Nations Copyright, 1963, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc. UNITED NATIONS, N. Y.—Ahmed Shukairy is now on a barnstorming tour of the United States. Who is Ahmed Shukairy? Well, a little occurrence at the U.N. will tell you who he is not. The very efficient UN press officers always put up on a notice board a list of the day's appointments scheduled or held by Secretary General U Thant. On the first day of M. Shukairy's current visit, the usual note went up and listed among others, "Mr. Shukairy of Saudi Arabia." A newsman, seeing the error, called the press chief's attention to the fact that Saudi Arabia, which had been represented here by Shukairy for several years, took that portfolio away from the man a year ago. The notice was amended to read simply "Mr. Shukairy." That told part of the story of who he is not. He is not of Saudi Arabia. He is not of Syria, whom he had served prior to being hired by the King of Saudi Arabia. He says he represents the "Palestine Arab - Delegation." The Arab League did, indeed, give him that title a few weeks ago. But—there is no "Arab Palestine Delegation" accredited to the United Nations, so—whom does Mr. Shukairy represent? Let the notice stand: "Mr. Shukairy." Readers who follow Israeli-Arab news out of the United Nations are, without a doubt, acquainted with the gentleman's name. For 15 years here, no one spoke louder, longer or with greater bitterness against. Israel than the same Shukairy. Now he is with us again. But, what is just as important is this fact: now he has launched a countrywide tour to give the rest of the United States the benefit of his "wisdom." Shukairy was a lawyer in Jerusalem before Israel was reborn. Thus, he is, technically, a refugee. He plays on that status. He speaks passionately, with vast emotion, about his "homeland." And, it must be repeated, he speaks at great length. Every speech by Shukairy is a marathon performance—full of vitriol. In his speeches, Shukairy time and again has declared war against Israel—and has come close to declaring war against any nation that accepts Israel as a reality—including the United States. Last year, in his anger against Jews, Zionists and Israel, he went so far as to advocate that the United Nations encourage formation of an organization similar to the anti-Semitic Tacuara movement in Argentina. His zeal knows no bounds—nor his acid and his manipulation of history in advocating the destruction of Israel, the stoppage of all Jewish immigration into Israel, the halting of all monetary contributions to Israel and 'Israeli causes, the ousting of Israel from the United Nations—indeed from the world. There is no doubt that fair and decent citizens in many American communities, where Shukairy is scheduled to speak, will counteract his propaganda. In one community, the radio and television stations have already been requested to provide fair opportunity to reply to Shukairy—if he is granted air time. In another community, faculty members and students at the local university have organized a "truthsquad" to be prepared to answer Shukairy publicly when he appears. The fact that Shukairy represents no delegation accredited to the United Nations will probably also be hammered home, wherever and whenever he employs his "delegation" title. For the last two years, the Arabs at the United Nations have come forward with such a "delegation"—and, both years, they received no official recognition. Members of their "delegation" have been permitted to speak in the General Assembly's Special Political Committee, the body which debates the Arab refugee problem. But—and this is imnortant as far as delegation status or non-status is concerned—these men have been given the floor only as individuals. Thus, it will be as an individual that Shukairy will appear here this year — as one voice, sour or irritable or prolix though it be. He will represent no government. His office will be at the headquarters of the Arab League in New York. The Arab League will spare no effort to have him interviewed by press and news media, but it is doubtful whether Americans will be taken in by his brand of propaganda when told the other side of the story.