UN's General Assembly Adopts
Purely Commentary Race
Discrimination Convention

By Philip Slomovitz

UNITED NATIONS, N. Y. (JTA) USSR, Jews are considered a for the first time in history, to
There is no end to confusion in the battle over the principle of — A most far-reaching instrument national group, while at the take this type of grievance direct-
United Nations Jews are con- ly to a special UN body, and the
guaranteeing to all people in all
church-state separation.
sidered by many experts and individual's identity will be
There is no hesitation on the part of those who insist upon ad- countries, including the Soviet
delegations as an ethnic group. guarded against possible retali-
herence to the established American ideal to resort to court action, Union, fullest enjoyment of all
human rights was adopted here
One of the most significant ation by his government.
if necessary, to enforce the separation rule.
Every world Jewish organization
Yet, the basic idea often—too often—is being broken. There are Tuesday without dissent by a clauses in the convention in the
plenary session of the General As- view of many observers here, in- having consultative status at the
frequent complications that raise the issue anew.
A few days ago, it was announced that distribution of the Gideon sembly.
eluding those representing world United Nations has been press-
The document, an International Jewish bodies, is an article pro- ing for the adoption of the con-
Bible has been resumed among servicemen at Fort Wayne. This means
}oat a Christian version of Scriptures is being handed out to service- Convention on the Elimination of viding for the right of individuals vention, despite the fact that an
All Forms of Racial Intolerance, to complain against their own amendement proposing condemna-
men of all faiths.
How is this to be interpreted? If there were insistence that the defines "racial discrimination" as governments, if such a govern- tion of anti-Semitism, introduced
Jewish Publication Society be presented, instead, to servicemen of the applicable to all persons or groups ment is a party that had ratified by the United States and Brazil,
Jewish faith, and the Douay Bible to Catholics, it would introduce a of any race, color, descent or na- the instrument.
had been killed in earlier pre-
division among the men in uniform into Jewish, Catholic and Protestant tional or ethnic origin. It orders
Thus, any individual or group sentations through the intervention
elements. Doesn't this also introduce the problem of separation, and specifically, among the many in any country will have the right, of the Soviet Union.
doesn't the action of the Gideon Bible distributors mean that a basic rights:
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law is being broken? Perhaps the civic-protective groups should test
1) The right to education and
this issue as well.
training;
2) The right to equal participa-
Herbert Hoover's Arab Transfer Plan:
tion in cultural activities;
An Idea That Allies to Refugee Problem
3) The right of any individual
Nearly three years before Israel emerged as a sovereign state, a to leave his own country or to re-
great American, whose renown dated to the post-World War I era turn to that country;
when he gained fame as the supervisor of relief activities in Belgium,
4) The right of any individual
proposed a plan for the resettlement of Arabs and
or group to file a petition direct-
their transfer from Palestine to Arabic countries.
ly to a special 18-member United
(Copyright, 1965, JTA, Inc.)
The late President Herber Hoover suggested a
Nations committee, complaining
1966 PREVIEW: As the year 1965 approaches its end and people
"model migration" that provides settlement "with
against violation of human rights
honor and wisdom."
by the country in which the in- begin to look into what the year of 1966 holds for them, Jewish leaders
That plan is fully recorded. It was especially
in this country are beginning to realize that Israel faces a year of
dividual or group lives;
well reported on Nov. 30, 1945, in the now defunct
5) Protection of an individual pulling in its belt . . . They foresee that Israel will in 1966 need much
Zionist Record of London, in which the "Hoover filing a complaint against his own more American Jewish aid than in any of the last few years . . . After
Transfer Plan" was outlined as follows:
country from disclosure of such years of comparative prosperity, lean years are now anticipated for
The former President of the United States, Mr.
the people in Israel because of a number of economic reasons . . . First,
an individual's identity;
Herbert Hoover, replying to a question by the
6) The right of a state to file Israel is facing a serious economic setback in the European Common
"World Telegraph" on the proposal for the settle-
complaints against another state Market countries; Euromart's recent decision affecting Israel's citrus
ment of the Palestine question, recalled the plan of
accused of violating human rights. export is a severe blow to Israel's economy . Second, Israel's trade
Hoover the British Labor Party for the transfer of Arabs
The convention also orders all deficit is already reaching about $500,000,000 a year . . . Third, Israel
from Palestine, and suggests that the Arabs should be transferred to
states ratifying the instrument to is no longer receiving any German reparations, and the German
Iraq. Speaking as an engineer, Mr._ Hoover pointed out that irrigation
prohibit formation of or practices government does not seem eager to enter into talks with Israel on
of the Tigris and Euphrates valleys once supported ten million people,
by all organizations based on granting credits . . . To this it must be added that Arab countries
and that 30 years ago Sir William Willcocks, the British engineer,
theories of racial or ethnic super- are now receiving arms from both Soviet Russia and the Western
estimated that close to three million acres of the most fertile soil in
iority. It condemns all such ideas countries on an unprecedented scale, and Israel has grounds to fear
the world could be recovered in Iraq at a cost of less than
and practices and calls upon states that these arms will not remain unused, judging by the constant hate
8150,000,000. "Iraq has no money," Mr. Hoover said. "My sugges-
to make organizations of that type threats voiced by Arab rulers . . . Acquisition of more arms by Israel
illegal and to punish practitioners to be able to defend itself will be necessary and this is a very expensive
tion is that Iraq should be financed, and this territory made the
scene of re-settlement of the Palestinian Arabs. This could clear
of racism. proposition . . . Under such circumstances, will Israel be able to balance
Palestine completely for large Jewish immigration and colonization.
It prohibits the state itself, as its 1968 budget, without increased financial aid from the outside
There is room for many more Arabs in such a development of Iraq
well, from engaging in any prac- world? . . . Will Israel be able to continue its absorption of tens of
than the total number of Arabs in Palestine. The soil is more fertile.
tices of that kind, outlaws racist thousands of new immigrants in the coming year, without intensified
The Arab population of Palestine would be gaining better lands in
propaganda and bans incitement assistance on the part of American Jewry? ... The income of the aver-
exchange for their present holdings. Iraq would be gaining because
age Israeli is small . .. An average person employed in Israel has an
to racial discrimination.
it badly needs an agricultural population." Mr. Hoover states that
income of $30 a week, or less, after taxes . . . The highest official in
The
convention
was
adopted
by
he realizes that his plan "challenges the statesmanship of the great
a vote of 106 in favor to none a government institution earns no more than $70 a week after taxes
powers and the goodwill of all parties concerned," but points out
against. Only one member state, . . . Even a member of the Israel Cabinet earns no more than about
that "today millions of people are being moved from one land to
Mexico,
abstained, due to internal $90 a week income, after taxes.
another." This particular transfer can be made "the model migra-
EILMIGRATION OUTLOOK: It is expected that about 40,000 iiYl-
parliamentary
requirements. The
tion of history," offering "settlement with both honor and wisdom."
migrants will arrive in Israel in 1966 . . . So the new year will once
convention
will
go
into
force
30
Since 1945, when this plan was proposed, a tragic situation was
days after it has been ratified by again be, for Israel, a year of high immigration ... The Jewish Agency,
created by the Arabs' flight from Palestine. It was an operation that 27 states, including not only which deals with immigration and absorption of newcomers to Israel,
was encouraged by Arab leaders who had hoped to be able to return
will need in 1966 about $82,500,000 to bring and settle these immigrants
to what had become the State of Israel and to pilfer Jewish posses- members of the United Nations but and to follow up the program of absorption in agricultural settlements
also
many
others,
like
West
Ger-
sions for what they believed would be a mass return of Arabs into
some 130,000 immigrants of earlier years . . . This, as well as
what had become Jewish settlements. Their schemes did not material- many, that are members of af- for
constructive projects for youth care and training, must be achieved at a
filiated
UN
bodies
like
the
special-
ize. Now the Arabs claim that 1,300,000 refugees represent an Arab
Agency's budgetary position is exceptionally
Palestinian problem. But only 600,000 Arabs had fled from Palestine. ized agencies and the Hague time when the Jewish
precarious . . . The Jewish Agency was a beneficiary of the German
Their numbers have swelled abnormally, and more than half of the Tribunal.
A draft that would forbid all reparations paid to the Israel government to the tune of fully 18 per
large total that lives on relief is under the age of 18. The entire prob-
religious intolerance is still cent . .. On March 31, 1966, these payments — a boon for the past
lem is abnormal.
pending. But it was pointed out 13 years in supplementing the Jewish Agency income from the United
Herbert Hoover had a practical plan to solve the problem. It is
that the convention adopted Jewish Appeal and other fund-raising campaigns — will cease ... This
especially applicable today. Will the Arabs listen to it? Will the great
Tuesday protects many groups, will leave a $10,000,000 gap in the . Agency's budget, and it is there-
powers—including our own government—recognize the wisdom of a
fore understandable why those responsible for implementing the work
like
the Jews in the USSR, from
former U.S. President? From present indications, as in the days of
are facing the year with a great deal of apprehension . . . For the
many
discriminations
because
Herbert Hoover, it is doubtful whether the panicked "statesmen" will
the instrument protects all ethnic Jewish Agency cannot fit its expenditures to the income made avail-
be able to waive fears of communism in the Middle East in search
and national groups. In the able to it from local fund-raising campaigns in any given year . .
of a solution of the painful refugee problem.

The Separation Battle and the Gideon Bible

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Boris Smolar's

'Between You
and Me'

General Koenig Reaffirms French Friendship for Israel

eral Koenig's abiding friendship
for Israel and his militant cham-
pionship of the cause for a secure
and free Israel. The guests includ-
ed Solomon Freidrich, secretary-
general of Alliance France-Israel.
The reception was formally
opened by Jacques Torczyner,
president of the ZOA, who cited
General Koenig's role in cement-
ing friendly relations between Is-
General Koenig, who is chair- rael and France.
General Koenig, who arrived
man of the Committee Alliance
this country last week, is one
in
France-Israel, was the guest of
of the three World War II mili-
honor at a reception tendered him
tary chiefs who led the Allied
at Hotel Pierre by the Zionist Or-
Armies to victory who were hon-
ganization of America under the
ored by the United Jewish Ap-
auspices of its public affairs com-
peal with gold medallions.
mittee, on the eve of his departure
Voicing his sense of gratifica-
from New York to Mexico en
tion at spending the last hours of
route back to France.
his stay in New York as guest of
Some 100 assembled Zionist the ZOA which "has done so much
representatives, by a standing ova- in helping Israel", General Koe-
tion, joined in the tribute paid by nig stressed the deep friendship
the toastmaster, Harry Torczyner of France towards Israel not , only
of New York, chairman of the ZOA as signatory of the Tripartite Dec-
public affairs committee, to Gen- laration, together with the United
States and Britain, guaranteeing
Israel's frontiers, but through fur-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

NEW YORK — General Pierre
Joseph Koenig, who served as com-
mander-in-chief of the Free French
Forces, expressed confidence to a
group of leaders of the Zionist
Organization of America that
France will continue to maintain
its close relationship of friendship
with the State of Israel—a friend-
ship which he described as "deep-
rooted and enduring."

#s

promote Israel's security against
attacks of aggression.
The general, former French de-
fense minister, cited a statement
which President de Gaulle made
to David Ben Gurion during the
latter's visit to France as prime
minister: "I salute Israel who is
not only our friend but our ally,"
in emphasizing that France's
friendship for Israel which began
under the Fourth Republic will
continue and be even strengthened
under the Fifth Republic by Gen-
eral de Gaulle. He voiced the hope
that the aim of t h e Alliance
France Israel, to translate the
friendship into an alliance, will
come into fruition in the future.
He announced that the committee
is composed of the foremost lead- ,
ers in all walks of life in France,
including six members of the pres-
ent French cabinet and 207 depu-
ties and senators.
General Koenig cited among the
activities of the committee its
efforts to secure for Israel links
with the European Common Mar-
ket, and other measures designed

Rather, it must find the money through loans from banks and other
sources to meet the cost of immigration and related programs .
In practical terms, this can only mean that income from the United
Jewish Appeal must increase in 1966 to fill the void . . . A favorable
augury is the relatively low cost of debt service in the United States
in 1966, which must be paid out of the proceeds of the UJA, amount-
ing to about $5,000,000 .. . This is a direct result of the latest and
most -far-reaching move to consolidate the debts incurred by the Jewish
Agency in earlier years when campaign income proved inadequate ...
Under an agreement arranged by the Jewish Agency, Inc., in New York,
all outstanding debts to American banks were taken over by a con-
sortium of 11 American insurance companies, to be paid back over a
15-year period . . . But while the debt consolidation ensures a larger
cash flow from the UJA for current operations of the Jewish Agency
in Israel, it also prevents any further borrowing in the United States
for Jewish Agency programs.
NEWCOMERS TO U.S.: Under the new immigration law which
eliminated the national origin quota system, it is anticipated that
10,000 Jewish newcomers will arrive in 1966 ... They will include also
Jewish refugees from Cuba . . . Of them, some 6,000 are expected to
settle in New York, and the New York Association for New Americans
believes that at least 5,000 of them will turn to NYANA for some
type of help . . . United Hias too will be busier in 1966 and its
budgetary requirements larger . . . The new immigration legislation,
which also provides for admission into the U.S of persons whose skills
would be advantageous to the country and for continued admission of
refugees, spreads the change over a three-year period . . . Meanwhile,
quota numbers unused by any one country, which previously went to
waste, will now be placed in a common pool to be used by over-sub-
scribed countries . . . With regard to Jewish refugees from Cuba, it
is known that the majority of the 7,500 Jews who left Cuba since
Castro came to power have settled in New York . . . There are still
about 2,500 Jews left in Cuba and it is expected that a large number
of those who will be permitted to leave during 1966—still an undeter-
mined number—will rejoin relatives in New York.

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