Friday, January 17, 1964—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-2 By Philip Slomovitz Purely Commentary Few experts are as well informed about the water situation in Israel and the countries adjacent to it as Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk, one-time land reclamation chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who, in 1929, conducted a survey in the Mediterranean area in behalf of the American National Program of Soil and Water Conservation. He had proposed a Jordan Valley Authority project and his findings were incorporated in one of the most valuable books published on the subject, "Palestine: Land of Promise," published by Harper in 1944. The views of this great authority on soil reclamation and water conservation are of great importance now, in a time when Arabs who would rather destroy the economic security of their own peoples than give recognition to Israel's existence are causing such commo- tion over Israel's plan to provide water to irrigate its arid South by means of a new system that will draw upon the supplies of the Jordan River and Lake Tiberias. Dr. Lowdermilk addressed the dinner that was given last week in honor of the 70th birthday of Dr. Emanuel Neumann, one of American Jewry's most distinguished leaders, and in the course of it he expressed amazement over the Arab threats over the Kinneret- Negev Israeli water project which is scheduled to start operating in the coming few months. Dr. Lowdermilk charged that there is "an ironic quality" to the Arab position, and he stated: "The Arab lands are not lacking in water resources. Syria, the most vociferous of the Arab states on this issue, has the Orontes and Euphrates and additional rivers and streams. Syria and the other Arab countries could today be participating with Israel in a great Dr. Lowdermilk regional program which would assure to all, an equitable distribution of water resources; but Syria torpedoed such a program. The plan by the late Eric Johnston was not implemented because—in Eric Johnston's own words—'Syria objected to the project because it would benefit Israel as well as the Arab countries'," he said. "The Jordan Valley Authority project was conceived as a great regional project to benefit the whole of Palestine, as well as Trans-Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. "But that grand design had to go `by the board' due to the apposition of the Arab states." "It is all the more astonishing and shocking that Israel's Arab neighbors not only rejected a project calculated to benefit their own people, but are now threatening to use every possible means; including armed aggression, to prevent Israel from utilizing its own territorial waters for purely humanitarian purposes. It is shocking to contemplate that these life-giving waters should rather be wasted than used to revive wastelands, to make them blossom as the rose. "Israel, faced with the growing needs of an increasing population and expanding economy, cannot—and should not be expected to—sacrifice her own future in deference to the irrational position taken by the Arab states. All who believe in progress will applaud Israel when she carries out her national water project which can be integrated eventually into a regional plan when the Arab states have the good sense to cooperate in it." These facts must be kept in view at this time, while the Arab chieftains are plotting Israel's destruction. All the nations living in the Middle East could have benefited from the Eric Johnston plan that had the endorsement of the United States Government. The Arabs rejected it because it would aid Israel as well as assist them. Instead, they began to divert the Yarmuk River waters from Israel. Now they are shouting that Israel is harming them with the water plan. It will be interesting to learn how many of the diplomats in the United Nations, who should know better, will be prepared to be duped by the Arab arguments. Is it possible that the USSR will, in time, be more logical and will act justly when this issue faces the UN? Human Relations Responsibilities Exoneration of USIA Two of our foreign correspondents, in reports published in this issue, one from Jerusalem and another from Frankfurt, direct attention not only to the Jewish readers for whom they are primarily intended, but also to non-Jews whe must share responsibility for decent human rela- tions and for assurance that the world will be protected against the horrors which have caused mankind to sit up in horror over the inhumanity of man to man. In his report from Frankfurt, John Dornberg, an authority on conditions in Germany, describes the attitudes of defenders in the trial of Nazis accused of the brutalities that were enacted in the Auschwitz extermination camp. His report, and the accompanying news about the trial in Frankfurt, serve as an admonition that crimes should be declared as not to be condoned—in the spirit of crime does not pay!—no matter how much time has passed since the criminals have been at large; and that there should be a perpetuated warning that anything approxi- mately Nazism will never be excused, either by individuals or by nations. Equally vital is the report from Jerusalem by Joshua H. Justman which presents a factual statement on the tortures that were endured by Israelis who were imprisoned in Syria and who revealed their sufferings upon their ex- change last month with Syrian prisoners. The tale of horror told by the only Israeli who re- turned without being mentally affected by the pains they endured reads like an inquisitional and medieval incident. Both the Red Cross and the United Nations, to whom the complaint about Syrian inhuman- ities has been referred, owe it to their status as humanitarian bodies to deal with the issue and to repudiate the horrors. Else, any repeti- tion of such inhumane acts can lead to an ag- gravation of difficulties that already have turned the Middle East into an embattled area. A reaffirmation by Donald M. Wilson, acting director of the United States Information Agency, of a policy of non-discrimination, has led to the exoneration of the agency of the charge made by national Jewish organizations that the deletion of a portion of a film which would have shown President Johnson with a rabbi was intended to appease the Arabs. Wilson's identical statement to the heads of nine national Jewish movements brought replies from them that they were "impressed" by evidence that USIA "has faithfully reflected the American nation with its ethnic and religious segments to peoples in all parts of the world." Apparently the blunder which had drawn sharp protests from Jewish spokesmen was made by authors of the script in question. Meanwhile Jewish leaders were drawn into a controversy that could have been averted had the USIA itself been more cautious with its explanations. There must be constant watchfulness against abuses, but there ought to be greater concern also by national agencies not to arouse sus- picions. It is fortunate that this controversy ended so amicably and it is to be hoped that the spirit in which USIA labors will be retained so that there may never again be cause for concern over possible pressures from hate-mongers. * You Can't Fool All of the People All of the Time In an analysis of how the Jordan River issue either divides or unites the Arab states, Dana Adams Schmidt, in a report to the New York Times, stated, inter alia: "The Syrian ferocity on this question is traditional. A succession of governments in. Damascus have been particularly inclined to pick fights on the Israeli border at times, such as the present, when their hold has been shaky." This brief paragraph speaks volumes in ex- plaining a situation that has caused so much trouble in the Middle East. It also proves that the troublemakers can- not fool all of the people all of the time. * * * Famous Zionist Physicians The otherwise exceedingly enlightening article on "Physicians in the Zionist Move- ment," by Dr. S. J. Plashkes of Jerusalem, in a recent issue, omitted a few very important names. Chief among those not mentioned in that article was the name of Dr. Harry Friedenwald, one of the great ophthalmologists, whose father (Dr. Jonas Friedenwald), brothers (Drs. Joseph and Aaron Friedenwald) and son (Dr. Jonas Stein FriedenWald), as well as nephews, also were outstanding . ophthalmological. authorities. Dr. Harry Friedenwald, an advocate of the Chevevei Zion movement, was the second presi- dent of the Zionist Organization (then known as Federation) of America. (The first American Zionist president was Prof. Richard Gotheil.). The Freidenwalds were among the leading Jewish families in America. It is good to know that a biography of Dr. Harry Friedenwald will be published and issued this year by the Jewish Publication Society of America. There were other great physicians who were Zionist pioneers. Many Detroit physicians were and some still are among the most active Zionists. A volume on Zionist Physicians would make interesting reading. •11111.1. 4111111• 0 ■ ••• ■ O41=1.0 ■ •111114) ■ • MIN1.0•11M1 ■ 01M• 0•11111111114111•1 ■ 041111 ■ 0111111111431111 ■0.■ 0•1101.101110. Boris Smolar's 'Between You ... and Me' (Copyright, 1964 Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.) Water, Water Although Egyptian President Nasser was the one who con- vened the "summit conference" of Arab kings and presidents against Israel in Cairo, there is cautious speculation that he would not risk a military attack on Israel . . . On the contrary, the prevailing opinion is that Nasser called the conference in order to avoid being dragged into a shooting war with Israel against his will by Syria . . . It is Syria and not Egypt — not even Jordan — that is the main objector to Israel's water development plan which will begin to bring water this spring from the Jordan River and Lake Tiberias to the Negev . . . Syria may provoke clashes on the Israeli-Syrian frontier which could, of course, develop into real warfare over the Jordan River water issue, an issue which does not affect Egypt since the Jordan River does not run in Egypt . . . Nasser seems to fear a Syrian-Israeli battle from which he could not stay away without being branded by Syria as a "traitor" to the Arab cause . . . On the other hand, Nasser is well aware of the destruction which his country may face, should he indulge in war against Israel .. . Israeli bombers could within minutes destroy the Suez Canal and cities like Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said . .. This is why one of his military confidants was re- ported in the Syrian press as stating that Egypt will not go into a hot war with Israel unless "it is positive that it can win the war in two hours, otherwise Israel will win in two hours" . . . Despite such a hint by Nasser on the eve of the "summit confer- ence" of the Arab rulers, one need not underestimate the conse- quences of the conference . . . There will be plenty of Arab noise against Israel at the United Nations Security Council, and the issue may even be referred for decision to the World Court . . Israel has already gone far in its preparations for the pumping of water from the Jordan River and Lake Tiberias to the Negev, with the knowledge of the U.S. Government and high U.N. officials. ... Tourists visiting Israel have seen the cement pipes and ditches on the roads from Lake Tiberias to the Negev . . . It is therefore doubtful whether any pressure can prevent the Israel Government from putting its water development project into effect. * * The Johnston Plan Water is a precious commodity in the Middle East . . . It is the key to expanded development of the arid but potentially fertile Negev . . . It has been vital in the absorption of the im- migration that has more than doubled Israel's population since the establishment of the Jewish State . . . It is essential to Israel's industry and to the country's economic growth . . Several times Syria has brought complaints to the United Nations Security Council; and 10 years ago, at Syria's initiative, the Arabs did succeed in blocking Israel's project to divert the Jordan River water north of Lake Tiberias . . . The United States then stopped economic aid to Israel, but subsequently proposed the Johnston Plan to share the waters in a regional system . . . Israel has always favored regional water development planning, in order that the states involved may reap the maximum benefit . . . It therefore accepted in principle the Johnston Plan which was prepared at the request of the United Nations by an American engineering firm under the direction of the Tennessee Valley Authority . . . So did Jordan and other Arab countries . . . However, the Arab League vetoed the project, which was pre- sented to Israel and the Arab governments by the late Eric John- ston, special ambassador of President Eisenhower . . . Alternative plans were then drawn up by Israel and Jordan, and each of these two countries separately moved ahead with parts of the development in a manner consistent with the regional program . . . The United States has financed Jordan's diversion of the Yarmuk River — which together with the Jordan River comprises the Jordan River Basin — and it has made it clear that it favors Israel's program as well. * Personality Portrait Radio Corporation of America, David Sarnoff, head of when he was a singer in a synagogue likes to talk of the years when choir, supplementing his meager income as a newsboy with the $1.50 a week paid to him by the synagogue . . . Even when he was at the height of his career in the Radio Corporation of Amer- ica, he still liked to visit New York's Cafe Royal, on Second Avenue, which was frequented by Yiddish writers and actors . There was always something nostalgic in him when he spoke of his boyhood on the Lower East Side of New York . . . This man, who now heads a giant corporation which is involved in radio, television, advertising, manufacturing, news gathering, commer- cial communications, and research — employing about 100,000 people — is still sentimental when talking about his "Pintele Yid" . . . Although he resides now in a home of six floors with 30 rooms, he still remembers the days when his poor Orthodox grand-uncle in the village of Korme, near Minsk, trained him in Talmud to be a rabbi . . . He remembers the small tenement flat on the lower East Side ghetto where he worked as a delivery boy helping to support the family . . . He does not forget the Educational Alliance on East Broadway where he received his first education in English . . . An impressive picture of David Sarnoff, the immigrant boy who now, at the age of 72, is the most powerful man in the history of communication, is presented in a book just published on him by the Encyclopedia Britannica Press, entitled "David Sarnoff: Putting Electrons to Work," written by John Tebbel, who brings out not only the high points in Sarnoff's life, but conveys also Sarnoff's views on the future and on the technological wonders awaiting us. Building Dedicated for LA Day School LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Ye- shiva Torath Emeth, which, since its establishment in 1957 has held classes in rented quar- ters, dedicated its own building at a banquet attended by lead- ing educators and Jewish com- munal leaders. The new building is a modern structure featuring air condi- ditiong and a built-in communi- cations system.