—mimpipmeemeememeommemieemeiPpiemeeplimpirsie. ---1 Comay's Brilliant Statesmanship By SAUL CARSON JTA Correspondent in the UN (Copyright, 1967, JTA, Inc.) UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.—A few weeks ago, Ambassador Michael S. Camay and this correspondent found themselves facing each other at the captain's table on Israel's lux- 11x7 liner, the SS Shalom, currently sailing on one of its fabulous Carib- bean cruises. The conversation veered to an interview this corres- pondent had with Mr. Comay in 1956. It happened during the strenuous day-and-night sessions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, which were deal- ing very harshly with Israel's cam- paign against Egypt in the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip. It was near midnight, as the JTA man and one representing the Associat- ed Press were having a bite to eat in the cafeteria prior to the sched- uled midnight meeting in the As- sembly. Along came Mr. Comay. who was not only a member of Isra- el's mission but also ambassador to Canada. Canada was vigorously active during those debates. It will be recalled that Canada's chief dele- gate, Lester B. Pearson—now the Commonwealth prime minister — was the man who made the drama- tic proposal which led to the estab- lishment of the United Nations Emergency Force—and subsequent- ly, earning for Mr. Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Pearson would voice that UNEF proposal that very dawn. Meanwhile, the press was interested in an arrange- ment Israel had made with Canada for the sale to Israel of a number of jet bombers. Canada had just declared an embargo on the ship- ment of all war material "to all countries in the Middle East." Since the only country needing those bombers was Israel, the ambassa- dor. to Canada was asked for his reaction. Unlike most diplomats, Mr. Comay was extremely frank. Yes, he had bought those bombers from Canada. Instead, he said, the jets were at that very moment in a Montreal warehouse. Why weren't they shipped to Israel before Ottawa had declared an embargo? The reason was quite simple: To .get those bombers shipped, Israel's embassy at Ot- tawa needed X-millions of dol- lars. It was a "cash on the bar- relhead" deal. Jerusalem had not been able to cable the cash to its ambassador in time. There- fore, the bombers were, for the moment, frozen—and the time for their shipment had passed. The JTA man and his AP col- league talked the matter over. They decided to keep Mr. Comay's in- formation off the record. On the Shalom, the ambassador was grate- ful—more than 10 years later—for the understanding shown by the correspondents. But he had a sequal to the story. It turned out that, at the moment, Israel was getting all the jets it needed from its French ally in the Sinai action. Not only that. Later, Mr. Camay was able to finish with Canada the deal that the embargo had frustrated after nine months of arduous negotiation. He sold those jets back to Canada. -----' Yes, he said with a smile, the story may now be told. The story is now told for the first time to illustrate the kind of man Mr. Comay was—and is. He has now given up his post at the United Nations, after being Israel's top ambassador here for nearly seven years. In point of continu- ous service, he is probably the old- est diplomat on duty here except for Afghanistan's Ambass ad or Abdul Rahman Pazhwak, president of the last General Assembly. There is very little doubt that, had he not been the Israeli representative, Mr. Comay might well have been con- sidered assembly president mate- rial by this time. He is certainly as well known here, and as popular, as Ambassador Pazhwak. The only people who hate him are the Arabs. Even the non-Arab Moslems, and their Russian pals, learned long ago to respect Michael Comay. Such respect must be earned, and does not come easily, especially for a diplomat who does more hard fighting here than most others. A sharp, witty, even-tempered but steel-hard, debater, facing at least 13 hostile representatives — the Arab League bloc — must reflect not only his government's spiritual and moral strength, but his own utter confidence, to keep from be- ing snowed under—let alone to maintain his reputation as a man. Michael Comay has done all that— and more. No wonder the Israeli Foreign Ministry took so much time, since its reorganization under Abba Eban, to decide finally, and with deep regret, to accept Mr. Camay's request to let him come back home to Israel. * * * Tall and ramrod-straight, Michael Comay, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1908, earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Cape Town, and later was a barrister in the South African Supreme Court. He was a soldier during World War II. As a major in the South African army, he served with the British Eighth Army in the Western Desert, was transferred later to service in Britain. He settled in Palestine in 1946, worked with the political depart- ment of the Jewish Agency in Jeru- THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, February 17, 1967-7 IRV KATZ salem, was sent on special missions to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, became a member of Offers Israel's first mission to the United Por THE FINEST DEAL Nations, served as a member of o' THE FINEST SERVICE Israel's delegation to the UN Gen- Come See for Yourself at eral Assembly, many times, became Israel's permanent representative here and assembly delegation chair- man in 1960. There is no doubt on the part of anyone who knows Ithchael Comay, least of all among the Israelis at home or here, that 20735 GRAND RIVER he will contribute materially when Minutes From he returns to Jerusalem to serve in KE 2-7500 Oak Park & Southfield the foreign ministry there. Between 6 Mile & Evergreen Meanwhile he is off on another special mission for Israel — this •11•9•00•111 •0••111•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••6• time, again, to Australia and New Zealand. When he is ready to de- part from the UN for his trip home—he is sure to get from near- • • ly all here (the Arabs always ex- (Trimmed-Rite Priced-Rite) cepted)—the heartiest "Shalom!" • UNICEF has helped to establish permanent health services in 122 countries. WHEN YOU Yee A COCKTAIL • • HAVE YOU TRIED FELDBRO • • REAL CHOICE, QUALITY MEATS? • • • • • • • FELDBRO • • • • • • • • QUALITY MEATS • • • • • • • 20233 W. SEVEN MILE (Just W. of Evergreen, corner Kentfietd) • • • • : Open daily: 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. Sunday: 9 to 6 P.M. : • • • KE 4-7522 Free Parking • (FELDBRO Has A Complete Line of Poultry) •,•••••••••••••••••••••o••••••••••••••••••••••••• Jimmy Matthews has a down payment ready for a summer cottage. He put ail of it into an NBD 90 day time certificate. Jimmy made a smart move. 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