Purely Commentary
Stevenson Tribute . . . Sad
India Alignment . . Nasser
Threat . . . Sharett Speech
By Philip
SIOMOVitZ
View S. African
Anti-Semitism
as 'Not Serious'
for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land," and three members of
In the taped interview, which was broadcast on the "Face the the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine, whose
JOHANNESBURG (JTA)—Ever
Nation" program last Sunday, Abdel Gamal Nasser again warned report led to the United Nation's partition on decision, called
it a "pro-Arab group" and declared that her committee "has since the National Party came in-
that Israel will be destroyed.
It was only a few weeks ago that Nasser angered representatives backed and encouraged Arab aggression in Palestine and has to power it has honored the pledge
of other Arab nations when he admittedly informed them that this taken an active part in the attempt to sabotage the United Nations given by the late Dr. D. F. Malan
(Prime Minister of its first Cabi-
was not the time to attack Israel. He conceded that he could not face decision on Palestine."
She wrote many letters to leading newspapers likening Zionism net in 1948) to remove the "Jew-
the issue now, and on last Sunday's program he said that Israel's
destruction must come, even if it is to take another 140 years. to Hitlerism and making absurd charges which were punctuated ish Issue" from the political life
This is how Nasser is posih'g as a modern Cato who was with hatred that smacked of anti-Semitism. A report she had of the country, says. a report of
continually exhorting the Roman Senate with the slogan "Carthago made in behalf of her committee was roundly condemned, and the South African Jewish Board
delenda est"—"Carthage must be destroyed." But modern Israel the late Dr. James G. McDonald, who later was to be named of Deputies.
"Nonetheless," the report adds,
is not ancient Carthage, and Nasser has proven that his repeated as the first U. S. ambassador to Israel, excoriated Miss Gildersleeve
threats that he will destroy Israel are intended for home consumption and the many Protestant leaders who were associated with her. "in the period since the last Con-
and as an appeasement to Arab politicians that he really means He charged that action like that of Miss Gildersleeve's committee gress—nearly three years ago —
there were a number of occasions
"invites the United Nation to commit suicide."
to fulfill a task of destruction.
Nasser accomplishes only one thing: he compels a continued
One does not speak ill of the dead. But Miss Gildersleeve's when Jews became 'news'; when
arms race in the Middle East and he forces Israel to be on anti-Israel record was so had that it must not be overlooked. public discussion and controversy
guard with a strong military force. How else is the beleaguered She certainly did not contribute to peace with her instigations relating to the Jewish community
suddenly flared up, revealing dor-
little Jewish state to protect itself?
to hatred of Zionism, Israel and the Jews.
*
*
mant or suppressed tensions that
came into the open.
A Famous Speech by Moshe Sharett
Ambassadorial Confirmations: Echoes of Holocaust
"This is not altogether surpris-
Moshe Sharett will be quoted for decades to come. He was
Appointment of ambassadors exchanged by friendly governments ing. South Africa has been ex-
the master linguist, the able analyst of political affairs, the
ordinarily
is
accompanied
by
confirmations
that
are
based
on
the
posed to unprecedented pressure
authority on Arab history. He knew Arabic well and he was
able to negotiate with Moslem leaders. He propagated peace and respective appointees being acceptable to the nations to which both from without and within.
This has been a period of height-
if the Arabs had not been so determined ha their war-mongering, they are appointed as their own governments' spokesmen.
Such was not the case in the instances of the selection of Rolf ened political partisanship and
he might have emerged as the peace-maker.
While Nasser is uninterruptedly fuming against Israel, his Pauls as the representative of West Germany to be the Bonn envoy often of sharp controversy within
Arab cohorts continually • resort to attacks and vandalism while to Israel, and Israel's appointment of Ascher Ben-Nathan as ambas- the Republic. Several important
leveling their attacks on Israeli border centers, and after fomenting sador to the Bonn government. Pauls had served in the Nazi army, issues came to the fore, involving
the trouble inevitably run to the United Nations to pose as saints and Ben-Nathan was the negotiator of arms purchases that had been the Jewish community either di-
made from West Germany by Israel. Pauls' association with the rectly or indirectly. There has also
and to charge Israel with aggression.
Mr. Sharett dealt with such tactics in a speech he delivered Hitler army caused a stir in Israel and there were objections to his been evidence of deliberate anti-
before the UN Political Committee on April 27, 1948. He said being sent to the Jewish State. The appointment of Ben-Nathan Jewish incitement through over-
is interpreted in Bonn circles as an obstacle to a German rap- seas and locally inspired propa-
in the course of that speech:
prochement with the Arab states which had broken relations with ganda.
"When I hear Arab spokesmen bemoaning the fate of the
West Germany over the latter's establishment of diplomatic relations
Palestinian Arabs as the innocent victims of wanton and brutal
"Indeed, taking all these ad-
with Israel.
attacks allegedly perpetrated by Jews, I am reminded of an old
verse factors into account, we have
Arab proverb: `Durabani—baka, sabaqani—shtaka,' which means:
The Germans' contentions are that disqualification of Pauls reason for some satisfaction that,
`Re beat me and wept, ran ahead of me and complained.' The
would have to be based on something other than a good military on the whole, anti-Semitism has
Arabs are suffering from the boomerang effects of their own
record in the Wehrmacht. Meanwhile it has been indicated that not been a serious problem and
mischief, and their diStress is self-inflicted. Were it not for the
Pauls had chosen a military career in order to avoid becoming that the normally good relation-
onslaught against the Jews initiated by the Arab Higher Com-
involved in Nazi politics. In his defense, it has been reported ship between the Jewish com-
mittee and magnified to present proportions by the Arab States,
that he was himself in danger of a summary execution because, munity and all other sections has
Palestine could today have been a peaceful country."
as commander of a military division, he arrested a Hitler Youth remained relatively undisturbed,"
This is as applicable today as it was 17 years ago, when Mr. commander and ordered his battalion of 15-year-old boys to be the report stressed.
Sharett explained the situation to the UN. Subsequent developments returned home to their families.
The report referred to Israel's
have proven that Nasser is no Cato, that the . saber-rattling Arabs
The choice of Ben-Nathan apparently was based on Israel's desire vote against South Africa in the
are not the Roman Empire. And Israel's peace proposals remain to be represented by a person who is informed on German-Israel United Nations, and the reactions
basic approaches in a modern setting.
involvements.
evoked in South Africa, as well as
The controversy revives an established fact: that the holocaust the statements of local Jewish
Is a Unified Body of American Jews Possible?
is not being forgotten. As an editorial in the General Anzeriget leaders, clarifying the position as
From many platforms 'often have come appeals for the formation of Bonn stated: "Events have shown how far we still are from far as South African Jewry was
of a centralized body to speak for American Jewry. Since the a real normalization of relations."
concerned. It also draws atten-
failure of the American Jewish Conference, 20 years ago, to
Is it possible that "normalization" as such can ever be estab- tion to "the mischievous anti-
develop into a desired representative movement, due primarily to lished? How can history possibly ever forget the holocaust?
Semitic propaganda, originating
*
*
*
the failure of the American Jewish Committee to cooperate in
overseas, under the guise of com-
such an organized movement with the other national Jewish bodies, India's Alignment With Arab League
bating Communism."
there have been efforts to establish a modicum of unity and in
The report recorded a number
Anyone who becomes too complacent, either in dealing with
some fashion so to coordinate Jewish affairs that it will be anti-Semitism or in viewing the situation affecting Israel, is unrealistic. of occasions when the Board of
impossible to split Jewish ranks.
Anti-Semites crop up so often, even among the most advanced Deputies took steps to correct
The formation of the Presidents Conference, composed of peoples, that the soundness of democratic principles must never false reports overseas which al-
expected
to
the heads of 21 national Jewish organizations, was
leged that there was a serious
be taken for granted.
be the medium for unified Jewish action. But the American Jewish
And anti-Israel sentiments are heard so frequently, often from anti-Semitic menace in South
Committee again has refused to join this body, and in his speech those - we would like to have as friends, that there is no end to Africa. It noted that extreme
to the World Jewish Congress executive committee, in Strasbourg, concern over the peace of the Middle East.
right-wing groups in the Republic
France, last Sunday, Dr. Nahum Goldmann condemned the AJCom-
The latest and truly disturbing diplomatic development is India's turn for inspiration to similar
mittee for "acting on its own . . . as if it were an international recognition of the 13-nation Arab League. The exchange of envoys groups abroad.
Jewish organization."
between India and the Arab League adds to the threats that constantly
There is a bit of irony in this charge. The AJCommittee has confront Israel. The fact that India has recognized Israel is not
for decades objected to any effort on the part of any group to sufficient to reduce the menacing new development. All Israel has
serve as "an international body," and its chief quarrel with the in India is a consul in Bombay. Otherwise there is only antagonism
World Jewish Congress has been its "international" character — towards Israel from India, and Indian spokesmen have been abusive
the objection being on the ground that no American Jewish group towards Israel in the United Nations.
dares to step out of its role as a strictly American Jewish body.
The new Indian act is cause for serious concern. It is • a result
At the same time, however, the AJCommittee has conducted business of Moslem pressure which continues to plague Israel and Jewry.
in various European areas and in Israel and in recent years has
Hay and [tarn
undertaken to create a body that will include foreign groups — The Late Adlai Stevenson
the Anglo-Jewish Association in Britain, the Alliance Israelite in
All Americans mourn the passing of the great American, Adlai
r;t7, r3
France and others.
Stevenson, whose untimely death removes from our ranks one of
Dr. Goldmann's chief complaint against the AJCommittee was the ablest spokesmen for our country in the United Nations.
reportedly inspired by the mission the AJCommittee had sent to
As Governor of Illinois, as candidate for President, as our
study Jewish conditions in South America. A report to the WJCongress representative in the United Nations, Mr. Stevenson was the wise
stated that "in recent years certain American Jewish bodies have counselor, the able interpreter a the highest ideals of Americanism.
developed the habit of sending delegations to South America, which
He will be remembered for his wisdom, for his great oratorical
are highly publicized but unauthorized by the local representative skill, for his courage in upholding high ideals.
bodies," and such action was branded as "the development of
a kind of American Jewish colonialism."
This controversy may well be viewed as an echo of an old
conflict which thus far has not been resolved. It revolves around
the need to create a single body that can serve as the spokesman
for American Jewry. If the issue as it has developed in Strasbourg
td
1117?-.3 ;1'7.1 : 17}th t7 77 1 , 7p3
can lead towards such action, the renewal of an old feud will
MONTREAL (JTA)—The long- under •Protestant sponsorship.
be a welcome contribution towards free discussion of Jewish affairs standing struggle of Montreal While Jews in the province pro-
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that may lead to much good. But if "vested interests" should Jewry to obtain a voice in the vide funds through taxation for
14
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,iiny
remain the dominant factor, obviating the possibility of genuine policies of the - Montreal Protes- the Protestant-sponsored school
unity in American Jewish -ranks, then the inevitable split will, tant School Board- was advanced system, they have never had rep-
rx14ii nb-iv .11 onip ,nre: .
indeed, contribute towards a perpetuated "American Jewish after the unanimous - approval of resentation on the Protestant
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colonialism."
the upper house of the Quebec School Board.
*
The Private Bills Committee of
;'zi-ii-/t22 .16 ;17i-4 '7133 er4,
Legislature of a bill providing for
the Legislative Council, the upper
Dr. Virginia C. Gildersleeve's Anti Zionist Venom
Jewish representation.
.17
house, gave unanimous approval
The death last week of Dr. Virginia C. Gildersleeve, dean
The bill is expected to become
emeritus of Barnard College, revives sad memories of the years law shortly, and the appointment to a private bill which provides ;17.pr,i‘? 7;"'?
:TI.ipn'? ri'??, ?;"r9
during which the eminent woman educator was among Israel's of the five Jewish members will for the naming of five Jews to the
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.4
;17. 4;;11 .3 ;I:1'1?11-4&f
bitterest enemies, who, in an era of great suffering in Jewish follow within a few days after it Protestant School Board of
1.14t r-7?.8; n.10, trp:litipi
ranks, was a spokesman for the anti-Zionist forces, especially for becomes law. The measure also Greater Montreal. Under terms
of the bill, the Minister of Edu-
the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist Council for Judaism.
t7ri'1? .11 rItin
stipulates that there w-i11 b e a cation will consult with repre-
zn1 .9
When the United Nations was considering the partition of
on
the
ex-
Jewish representative
;trn'ng
nit
.13
;
tr'171)
sentative
institutions
of
Montreal
Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, Miss Gildersleeve was among ecutive committee of the Protes-
Jewry in selecting the Jewish rep-
the most outspoken opponents of the Jewish hope for relief for
.14
tant School Board.
resentatives.
the masses of the homeless whose only chance for survival was
By courtesy of "01AM HADASH,"
Quebec does not have a public
settlement in what was then Palestine and which was soon to
American Hebrew' Children's magosht0 4?;
school system, and most Jewish THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
emerge as the State of Israel.
Solution to Crossword
Friday,
July
16,
1965
2
Puzzle on Page 13
She. formed a so-called "Gildersleeve Committee"—the "Committee children attend schools operated
Nasser's Newest Threat
Seek Representation for Quebec Jews
on Montreal Protestant School Board
;
.
-
—
Cf,