Purely Commentary

Don't Bite the Hand . . . a Strange Formula for Ingrates

Israelis, liberals who endorsed the Jewish state's policies of aiding
underdeveloped countries and students of human and diplomatic affairs
must all be puzzled by the latest anti-Israel act: Chad's severing relations
with Israel.
Is it possible that a small country that has benefited so much from
the help extended to her by Israel should suddenly become venomous,
threatening, destroying the good faith that had been established over the
years?
Remember the old saying: "Don't bite the hand . . . ?" Chad is

not only biting the helping hand but is resorting to destructive means
against Israel.
President Francois Tombalbaye of Chad has even yielded to such
noriminse as stating that Israel's presence threatens Chad's security.
Such acts are not subjects for diplomatic study. They pose the
human problem how can one who benefits from a friend suddenly be-
coin( an enemy^
Perhapt:, as Max Fisher told the Allied Jewish campaign gathering
livri last week, it all stems from the oil interests in Libya, from the arro-
gance of an atiti•Israel Arab source that has only one objective, to destroy
Israel

Maxim Gorky

Evidence of Philo-Zionism

Interest i
•., vived in a great Russian, his writings, his idealism,
with the presentation by the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center,
New Pork, of Maxim Gorky's "Enemies."
He was one if Russia's very
great men. and at a time when
the Stalinist cruelties are being
reconstructed and are earning
the world's condemnation, it is
well to think about a man of
honor and eminence who pro-
vides glory for Russia.

In an era when anti-Zionism
is a weapon against Jews and is
the synonym for anti-Semitism,
it is well to recall Gorky's in-
terpretation of Zionism. He
asked himself whether Zionism
was a Utopia and he gave his
answer

"I an' Au! Zionism is a Uto-
pia. I de not know; perhaps.
- But inasmuch as I see in this
Utopia
unconquerable thirst
Maxim Gorky
for freedom one for which the
peoph wii ,uffer, it is fe7 me a reality. With all my heart I pray
that ,1111 Jewish people, like the rest of humanity, may be given
spiritual strength to labor for its dream and to establish it in flesh
and bloo,

na,' 1”•en an expatriate from Russia. Ile returned to his
Gm:
native tam • 1032, and to the last he was considered the only per-
sonalit!
..:fliience to oppose Stalin.

w. 1,vs believed that her husband was poisoned, and it
Got'
ha it was on Stalin's orders.
is belies (.
Wi na. honor to Maxim Gorky on the occasion of the new inter-
est in orc his great plays and we recall with appreciation his inter-
esting definition of the libertarian Jewish ideal expressed in Zionism.

How Those Who Benefit From Israel's Humanitarianism
Seek Benefactor's Destruction . . Exposing Propaganda
About Birobidjan . . Maxim Gorky's Zionist Ideology

The billions from oil resources that are being acquired by backward
nations like Libya have created the arrogant attitude, one that threatens
the peace of the world, because in the process of hating Israel Libya and
her cohorts are endangering the security of mankind—with encouragement
to hijackers, with brutalities that menace the well being of the Middle East
and the peace of mind of millions under threats from medieval tyrants

and terrorists.
Chad's is the second example of inanities. It began with Uganda,
and the Ugandan cruelties are well known. The Israelis, who extended
much help to Uganda as Well, were driven out of the country. Now there

is a serious court case against Uganda in this country. It involves cancel-
lation of letters of credit because of the Uganda government's "now policy

of active anti-Semitism."
That's the new trend—a revival of anti-Semitism among those who
have been fed and led and guided toward civilized ways of life by the
Israelis. But those who lean toward brutality do not understand the human
way, and the Libyan road is toward inhumanity.
This is what we have to contend with. It is against this that world
Jewry must mobilize. What the enemy of Israel's hasn't learned is that
Israel and Jewry do not yield to threats of destruction too easily. If it does
anything, it is that it invites counter-action—the would-be destroyers' self-
destruction.

Truth About That Bluff Called Autonomy for Jews in Birobidjan

So many bluffs have been manufactured about the so-called Jewish Autonomous Region in Biro-
bidjan, in Siberia, that the report to the Los Angeles Times by its Moscow correspondent, Murray Seeger,
serves the purpose of exposing the lie.
The Birobidjan territory was established as a means of counteracting Zionist ideology. Perhaps there
was sincerity when the idea of a Jewish state in Siberia was first projected. But the region never had a
Jewish majority, those who propagate in its favor are Communist agents. It has been told some years ago,
by Nehama Lifshitz, the noted singer who had emigrated from Russia, that those she had met in Biro-
bidjan live under psychological pressures that compel them either to be silent about their lot or to affirm
loyalty as a duty to their Communist lords.
Seeger's report from Moscow quotes "an anti-Zionist spokesman, Prof. Boris Byalik," as confirming
last spring "that only 15,000 Jews lived in the region compared with 240,000 in Moscow, 170,000 in Lenin-
grad and 150.000 in Kiev." The 15,000 Jews out of a total Birobidjan population of 173,000 have established
a new minority—and while there is a Yiddish newspaper in that region—the only Yiddish periodical in the
Soviet Union besides the monthly Soviestish Heimland — the exaggerations regarding the region are
enormous.
Now there are rumors that there is a Soviet plan to deport many Jews to the Siberian area that
has been hailed as a Jewish homeland. If there is any truth to it, the advance warning will serve to alert
Jews to be on guard not to be tricked into such a a scheme. Seeger's report indicates that any attempt
to force a Jewish migration to Birobidjan would meet with opposition.
Ile also quotes David Benavia of the London Times as having reported, after a visit to Birobidjan.
that most Jews there are being assimilated into the Communist dominant culture. Benavia is quoted
as stating: "There are parts of London which are obviously more Jewish." This is evident from all reports
about the region.
The Birobidjan scheme had many people fooled at the time it was plotted by Russia as a measure
to counteract enthusiasm for Zionism and the ideal of national Jewish redemption. The conditions in Russia
were mighty depressing, and the Czarist threats still hovered over them. Yet even in those uncertain days
only a handful—on the basis of the large Jewish population in Russia—undertook to settle in that area.
And those who settled there were among the extremest Communists.
We have seen and read the Birobidjan Yiddish newspaper and we are not fooled by it. It's
Communist-oriented, there is nothing Jewish about it, except the names of Jews who reside in Birobidjan,
and the anti-Zionists in Russia who give comfort to anti-Semites with their attitudes are not fooling any-
one with their propaganda.
It should be added that the fear of a possible mass deportation of Russian Jews to Birobidjan is a
foolish yielding to panic-spreading. Russian Jews, by their demands for visas to Israel, have demonstrated
that they can't be forced into another exile. The scare instigated regarding a mass deportation to Birobidjan
is a bit too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
The truth always emerges in spite of attempts to blind people to reality. The truth about Birobidjan
has been known for a long time. Now the evidence is more impressive.

Doc' t-al Thesis Adds Understanding to Britain's Mid East Role

envisaged Husain as the lead- the Sharif's expansionist am-
er of a widespread Arab re- bitions."
volt against the Turks and as
Dr. Silverfarb notes that
the possible head of a pro- Great Britain was careful not
British Arab confederation." to antagonize the Najd ruler
But the Egyptians, the au- or to break ties with him. He
thor of this study points out,
adds: "Thus, despite the ten-
had little experience or sion which developed in
knowledge of Arab conditions Angio-Najd relations in 1919
It is a scholarly work in the
and they overestimated the and 1920 as a result of British
completion of which Dr. Sil-
Sharif's military strength or support of Husain, in the
verfarb continued his studies
political influence.
postwar period, when Ibn
for his M 1. at Wayne State
Egyptian authorities r e - Saud's increased importance
University, after earning his
tained faith in Sharif and became manifest, Britain was
BA at the University of
thought he could, with Brit- in a position to adjust to the
Michigan. Entering the Uni-
ish support, dominate the altered situation."
versity of Wisconsin for his
Arabian Peninsula. At the
doctora'e, he pursued his re-
same time, Indian authorities It is this adjustability of
reach in England on a
placed greater confidence in British administrative pol-
scholar', work that enriches
lbn Saud. "They were con- icies that emerges interest-
Middle E historical anal-
cerned," the author states, ingly in Dr. Silverfarb's
yses.
"with preserving a dominant doctoral essay.
It i , or, the question of British position in Mesopo-
The ni a n y struggles be-
British policy in the Arab- tamia. buttressed by a nuns- tween the contending forces,
ian Pee;'', la during World
bar of semi- independent the caution displayed by Brit-
.var I Silverfarb's British-protected sheikhdoms am in the Husain-Ibn Saud
ded "especially
along the t'ersian Gulf." struggle for power, the vari-
lose•
the important
Thus, "the Indian officials ous aspects of power strug-
diffe
'en the Brit- were favorably disposed to- ales in the Middle East dur-
Egypt and ward Ibn Saud, because, ins the first world conflict
ish a.. :
the goy..
-f India and unlike Husain, he was con-
are extensively outlined by
subor•linate
:ficials in cerned, primarily with pre- Dr. Silverfarb. He summar-
„opotaiiiia."
serving and consolidating his izes by indicating:
'.:- ace.! in this study is "the position in Arabia rather
"In 1922, and again in 1925,
•-, lotion of British policy to-
than asserting grandiose the British government con-
--xxrd Ibn Saud of Najd *, -om claims to political leadership
eluded agreements with Ibn
iitta until his defeat of %nig
over most of the Ottoman Saud delimiting his frontiers
llusaln of the llijas In I i." Empire . . . Indian officials with those of Iraq, Kuwait
*e. Silverfarb points out that frequently attempted to
util- and Transjordan." In a sub-
authorities in Egypt ize Ibn Saud
as a check upon sequent treaty in 1927 "Brit-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS air recognized Din Saud's
Friday, Doc. it 1972

Danie. Silverfarb is now
the possessor of the doctor
of philosophy degree in his-
tory from the University of
Wisconsin, and his thesis is
on the subject "British Re-
lations With Ibn Saud of
Najd 1914-1919."

By Philip
Slomovitz

Peron Return May Exacerbate
Anti-Semitism in Argentina

complete independence, in-
cluding the sphere of foreign
relations. In turn, the Najd
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The re- and other colonels, who in-
ruler recognized the special
turn of Juan Domingo Peron stalled Pedro Pablo Ramirez.
position of the British gov-
to Buenos Aires has fright-
A wave of anti-Semitism
ernment in the Persian Gulf
ened some Jews there, but it
and agreed to maintain is still too early to assess was unleashed by the new
government
and universities,
peaceful relations with the
the consequences his return and the labor movement was
British-protected' principali-
will have on the lives of purged of liberal and radical
ties along the shore of the
Argentina's Jews, according elements. Roman Catholic in-
Gulf."
to Avraham Shenker, direc- struction was imposed on
Scores of other develop- tor of the World Zionist Or-
public schools.
ments are analyzed in this ganization's department of
extensive study which adds information.
Peron, who became pres-
ident in 1945, was a disciple
to an understanding of events
Shenker,
who
just
returned
of Benito Mussolini. "Mus-
that affected conditions in the
Middle East prior to the re- from Argentina, told a press solini was the greatest man
birth of the state of Israel. conference that he felt Per- of this century, but he com-
While Dr. Silverfarb's thesis on's return might exacerbate mitted certain errors," Per-
anti-Semitic feelings in Ar- on declared early in his reign
does not deal with the Arab-
as Argentina's dictator. "I
Israel issues, it has great gentina.
Discussing his recent trip will do what Mussolini did.
merit in its treatment of the
through
Latin
America
after
but without his errors."
over-all subject involving the
Arab states, the relationships participating in the confer-
During World War IL Ar-
with Britain which could also ence of Latin American Jew- gentina was a haven for
have influenced British rule ish communities in Lima, Nazis fleeing from Europe
in Palestine, and the entire Shenker said that Argentina and for reavy investments by
area's political scheming that "is the only country where German industrialists a n d
eventually developed into the anti-Semitism is open and financiers in Argentina's in-
formation of so many addi- straightforward while in dustries and cattle market.
other countries it is more ob-
tional Arab states,
Dr. Gerhart Riegner of
Dr. Silverfarb — he is the scure and below the surface." Geneva, secretary general of
Peron, who returned to the World Jewish Congress,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Silverfarb of Southfield—has Buenos Aires after an exile who also returned from Lima,
added a valuable chapter to of 17 years, is reportedly reported to the group's Amer-
the study of events in the seeking to regain the power ican section that "Jewish
World War I and post-World he began to build in that institutions are confronted
War I eras and to the situa- country as a pro-Nazi colonel with an atmosphere of dras-
tions in the Middle East pre- in I943.
t i c uncertainties which
ceding Israel's attaining in-
The then President Ramon changes daily both econom-
dependence and statehood.
Castillo was ousted by Peron ically - and politically."

I