UNESCO Resolutions Draw International Boycotts
PARIS (JTA and N. Y.
TIMES)—There has been a
backlash following votes in
UNESCO's general confer-
ence last month excluding Is-
rael from membership in the
organization's European re-
gional grouping and withhold-
ing cultural aid from Israel.
Israel has announced it will
cease participation in cultur-
al events linked to UNESCO.
It's UNESCO committee
called on Israeli artists and
scientists to boycott UNES-
CO-sponsored events, b u t
carefully avoided calling for
Israel's withdrawal from or-
ganizations and events with
less direct links with UNES-
CO.
The Senate has voted to
withhold U. S. financial sup-
port from UNESCO until the
anti-Israel resolutions are re-
pealed. The U. S. Supplies
about a quarter of the organ-
ization's biennial budget of
$170 million.
The Swiss have reduced
their contributions to UNES-
CO and other nations appear
to be ready to follow suit.
What is perhaps more seri-
ous, outstanding European,
Israeli and U. S. teachers,
scientists and artists have re-
- cently declared that they will
have little or nothing more to
do with the organization.
These include Monday's an-
nouncement that the _World
ORT Union- was withdrawing
its cooperation with UNESCO.
The new director general,
Amadou Mahtar M'bow, a
black and a Moslem who is
former education minister of
Senegal, is described by .his
chief spokesman as "a wor-
ried Man," both about money
and the agency's image
among scholars and intellect-
als around the world. -
The organization has a
hand in activities all over the
world, but it is burdened by a
top-heavy bureaucracy that is
based in an enormous and
handsome complex of build-:
ings in Paris. -
The Paris staff numbers
Vatican Blasted
for Giving Prize
to UNESCO
BRUSSELS (JTA) — A
prominent Catholic organiza-
tion criticized the Vatican's
decision to award the distin-
guished Pope John XXIII
Peace Prize to UNESCO.
-The National Catholic Corn-
mission for Jewish-Christian
Affairs, headed by Father
Luc Dequecker, declared that
the Vatican decision coming
just after the UNESCO anti-
Israel declarations "takes on
a very political context."
Father Dequecker said that
his organization has request-
ed the Belgian Catholic
church to make known to the
Vatican its concern over the
matter.
The communique further
declared that the National
Catholic Commission "re-
affirms its solidarity with the
Belgian Jewish communi-
ties." It added, "We deplore
the present tensions, and
have urged that the Vatican
do everything it can to cor-
rect the impression of bias
in this matter."
3,117, with 1,300 more in of-
fices in other countries.
According to people who
travel widely in the Middle
East, Asia and Africa, UNES-
CO's direct presence is only
faintly felt, unlike the pres-
ences of other specialized UN
agencies such as the Interna-
tional Children's Emergency
Fund.
Despite its successes, it is
being increasingly criticized.
The Paris headquarters is de-
scribed as a "gravy traini
with incessant paper-shuf-
fling, coffee breaks and fruit-
less seminars, and speeches
leading to more of the same.
"It has nothing to do with
the real world," a former
official said.
Other international Jewish
organizations besides ORT
have informed UNESCO that
they are giving strong con-
sideration to severing their
relations with it.
Lord Nathan of Churt,
chairman of the International
Council of Jewish Social and
Welfare Services, made that
clear in a cable he sent to
M'Bow.
The cable expressed "grave
concern for the future of
UNESCO in the light of its
recent political intervention
in relation to Israel."
It said "Being an organi-
zation with consultative sta-
tus, with others similarly
placed, we are impelled to
consider our future relations
with your Council. It is with
deepest regret that through
the action of your Council we
are forced to consider wheth-
*, *
er we can and should carry
out our charitable purposes
in the political context in
which your Council has
placed them and accordingly
whether we should maintain
our association with UNES-
CO."
The International Council
of Jewish Social and Welfare
Services is an umbrella or-
ganization for the European
Council of Jewish Commun-
ity Services, American Jew-
ish Joint Distribution Com-
mittee, Central British Fund
for Jewish Relief and Reha-
bilitation, Jewish Coloniza-
tion Association, United HIAS
Services, and the World ORT
Union.
Meanwhile, 13 prominent
Chilean writers and a group
of British intellectuals have
sent separate protest letters
to UNESCO. The British
group announced a boycott of
UNESCO in the London
Times.
Their letter was signed by:
Pulian Huxley, the first di-
rector general of UNESCO;
Ernst Hans Gombrich, the
world famous art historian;
Lord Goodman, chairman of
the Newspaper Publishers
Association and former chair-
man of the Arts Council;
Graham Greene, novelist;
Stuart Hampshire, literary
critic; Dan Jacobson, the
South African novelist; Ar-
naldo Momigliano, professor
of ancient history at the Uni-
versity of London; Henry
Moore, sculptor; Iris Mur-
doch, novelist and philoso-
phere; K. R. Popper, profes-
*
UNESCO Delegate Lands U.S.
The following letter is re-
printed from the New_ York
Times:
To the Editor:
Having now shed offical
status as a member of the
United States delegation to
the recently concluded UN-
ESCO General Conference in
Paris, I wish to add my-pri-
vate voice to protest the ser-
ies of outrages just perpetrat-
ed against Israel by that body
in the name of the world's
educational, scientific and
cultural community.
First, however, I would like
to say that it was a good feel--
ing—and one that I have not
always had during the past
decade—to be able to 'associ-
ate myself with 'a U. S. policy
that was totally decent and
humane.
The U. S. delegation, led by
our permanent representa-
tive, William Jones, and the
chairman of the General Con-
ference delegation, Miller Up-
ton, president of Beloit Col-
lege, labored mightily to keep
the various debates on Israel
within the bounds of fact and
law.
Letters to the State Depart-
ment from concerned Sena-
tors were also helpful.
That we consistently lost
by overwhelming votes — in
one case being the only na-
tion in the world to side with
Israel—should not be taken
as an imputation of the skill
and dedication of Jones, Up-
ton and their assistants.
The withdrawal of all UN-
ESCO funds to Israel, the
charges against Israel of "al-
, Dec. 13, 1974 THE •DiTROIT' JEWISH NEWS
tering the historical features
of the City of Jerusalem" and
denying Israel a place in the
organization's regional struc-
ture are entirely alien to "the
purpose of the Organization
(which) is to contribute to
peace and security by pro-
moting collaboration among
the nations through education,
science and culture in order
to further universal funda-
mental freedoms which are
affirmed for the peoples of
the world . . ." (Article I,
UNESCO - Constitution.)
In the words of a recent
letter to the U. S. delegation
from Leo Rudloff and Mrs.
Reinhold Niebuhr, "It is tra-
gic at this moment in history
that UNESCO should become
an organ of propaganda,
"UNESCO came into being
because men hoped for peace
based on knowledge and
tfuth. We recall the words of
its original constitution . that
wars begin in the minds of
men."
There is much worth saving
in UNESCO. There is much
worth doing through UNES-
CO. But, I am convinced, this
will not happen if left to the
present designs of govern-
ments.
Through individual actions
and through the actions of
UNESCO national commis:
sions we must make known
our dissatisfaction with the
politicization of UNESCO.
The recent actions In
France of Francoise Giroud,
Simone de Reauvoir, Sartre,
Ionesco and others are im-
portant first steps. We must
now hear from the American
intellectual community.
STEPHEN HESS
sor of literature; V. S. Prit- sal culture" and has been in
chett, author and literary cri- the forefront of religion, sci-
tic; Stephen Spender, poet; ence and philosophy for cen-
and Sir. Mortimer Wheeler, a turies.
world renowned archaeolo-
The Representative Com-
gist.
mittee of the Jewish Com-
Their letter stated: "The munity of Chile has com-
`technical' nature of UNES- mended its government for
CO's resolutions should not supporting Israel at the
obscure their political inten- United Nations General As-
tion, nor the implaccable hos- sembly last month.
tility to the State and people
Chile voted against a reso-
of Israel which animates lution calling for the right of
them. They are not only 'a the Palestinian people to re-
callous insult to a community turn to their land and prop-
whose intellectual and cultur- erty, and abstained on a reso-
al achievements are as little lution according the Palestine
to be questioned as those of Liberation Organization per-
any country sponsoring the manent observer status in the
resolutions; they also amount General Assembly.
to a rejection of that com-
Gil Sinay, president of the
munity's elementary rights
council, said Chile's action in
which is disturbing in its
defiance of the Arab states
wider implications."
They added: "We wish and their allies was all the
more praiseworthy because
strongly to associate our- Chile produces barely 25 per-
selves with the protests of our
cent of its domestic oil con-
French colleagues V and to sumption and is dependent
make known our intention of on oil imports.
declining, until these deci-
In Paris, Israeli experts
sions are reversed, to partici- boycotted the opening session
pate in UNESCO's program- of a United Nations Educa-
mes."
tional Conference last week
In a separate letter pub- in protest. It was the 'first
lished in The Times, Yehudi opportunity for Israel to show
Menuhin charged that UN- its disapproval of the 'UNES-
ESCO "has reached the na- CO actions barring it from
dir of absurdity in the cen- the agency's regional group-
sure of a whole people on a ing, condemning the archae-
contrived and transparently ological diggings in Jerusa-
technical charge." He was lem and voting aid to the
referring to UNESCO's com- PLO.
plaint over Israeli archae-
"I don't think we're going
ological. digs in East Jerus- to do anything much more
alem. -
with UNESCO," one Israeli
The Chilean writers char- delegate said. He added that
acterized• UNESCO's act as most of the agency's work
"simply and definitively ab- was done in the regional con-
surd and therefore unaccept- ferences "and there we're no
able." It noted that "Israel,. longer wanted."
like Greece and Rome, holds
Also, scientists scheduled
a place of privilege in the
to
take part in a UNESCO
historical accounts of univer-
chemistry symposium failed
. * * *
to show up. Three of them is-
sued public statements con-
Senate Rules Out
demning UNESCO's decisions
Aid fOr UNESCO
against Israel.
In New York, two major
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The
Senate, without dissent, ruled Jewish organizations praised
out American financial sup- Sen. Clifford Case (R.-N.J.)
port to UNESCO until it re- for his role in the Senate For-
stores Israel to its rightful eign Relations Committee
place in it and then author- recommending the United
ized a foreign aid program to States terminate its $16 mil-
cost no more than $2.67 bil- lion grant to UNESCO be-
lion for the fiscal year that cause of its anti-Israel reso-
ends next June 30.
lutions.
The measure includes
In a letter to Case, Rabbi
$439,000,000 in economic and Israel Miller, chairman of
military grants and $200,000,- the Conference of Presidents
000 in military credits for Is- of Major American Jewish
rael, while allowing $250,000,- Organizations, said he was
000 in economic grants for writing to express the grati-
Egypt; $243,000,000 in eco- tude and appreciation of the
nomic and military aid for 32 national Jewish organiza-
Jordan, and $100,000,000 in a tions that comprise the Pres-
special_ fund slated for Syria. idents Conference.
Israel's allowance w a-s
T h e Anti - Defamation
boosted by $89,000,000 in eco- League of Bnai Brith also
norriie grants to equal the applauded Case's role and
amount granted to Egypt in urged "widespread vocal sup-
another measure for agricul- part" for. the Senator's
tural purposes. Thus, Israel amendment.
and Egypt, under the two
Seymour Graubard, ADL
bills, will receive the same national chairman, announced
amounts in economic gifts.
that his organization is organ-
The House is expected to izing a campaign to bring to-
act on its own authorization gether all the creative peo-
measure with a ceiling of ple--scientists, writers, com-
$2.64 billion recommended by posers and artists—who con-
its Foreign Affairs Comr”it- tribute their talents to UN-
tee last Oct. 25. That measure ESCO "in an effort to compel
does not include the addition- the agency to withdraw the
al $89,000,000 for Israel but resolutions as the price of
has equal grants of $250,000,- their continued participation."
Immediately after the UN-
000 for Israel and Egypt.
The authorization measure ESCO votes, leading Jewish
sets the policy for the pro- and non-Jewish intellectuals
gram. -Appropriations must in the United States, France,
be voted by both Houses and West Germany, Britain and
approved by the President Argentina signed petitions
before the funds can be obli7. and sent _statements to UN-
ESCO declaring that they
I gated.
wil not participate in the ac-
tivities of that body until the
resolutions are rescinded.
Meanwhile, Abba Eban, for-
mer Israeli foreign minister,
deplored the decreasing pub-
lic support for UNICEF, the
UN children's agency, Which
has been incorrectly tied to (,
the UNESCO actions.
"UNICEF is the highest
example of an intern.'-nal
ne
body that pursues its
goals without ever ben
fected by political, raci-_
religious conflicts or differ- ` I
ences," Eban declared.
Collection of UJA
Pledges May Be
Difficult : Sapir
_ JERUSALEM (JTA)—Pin-
has Sapir reported to the
World Zionist Organization
Executive that financial diffi-
culties in the United States
were making it increasingly
difficult to collect United
Jewish Appeal pledges and
that the Jewish Agency was
considering ways to cut next
year's budget because of
shrinking UJA receipts.
Sapir, who is chairman of
the WZO and Jewish Agency
Executives, reported on his
recent five-week tour of 32
American cities and several
European countries.
He said a special commit-
tee was preparing a conven-
tion of American Jews to dis-
cuss ways to exitand Ameri-
can Jewish activities on Is-
rael's behalf from fund rais-
ing to aliya. Mordechai Bar-
On, head of the Jewish Agen-
cy's youth department, re-
ported that a massive infor-
mation drive was underway
at 400 American universities
to encourage aliya.
The immigration and 'ab-
sorption department reported-
that 'a volunteer organization
in Chicago would soon begin
an Aliya campaign among
"blue collar" Jews in that
city with the aim of organiz-
ing them into .aliya groups to
settle in new development
towns in Israel.
JNF Chief Tsur
Visits French Jews
NEW YORK—Jacob Tsur,
world director of the Jewish
National Fund, returned re-
cently from a tour of France,
where he was the guest of
the department of organiza-
tion and informition of the
Zionist Organization at the
opening of their Zionist Infor-
'oop--
mation Month, held
Or-
eration with the Frt.
ganization of Sephardic Jew,
and the Union of Profession-
als for Israel.
Tsur proceeded to Belgium
where he vas the guest of
the local JNF on a speaking
tour of Brussels and Ant-
werp. -
Tsur urged Jewry:
• To put pressures on their
government and press to stop
the "Munich policy" aimed
at appeasing the Arabs at Is- .
rael's expense;
• To increase contributions
above and beyond what they
are capable of giving in or-
der to enable Israel to wea-
ther this most critical of
times;
• To encourage and in-
crease both aliya and volun-
teer groups on different pro-
grams.