THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, January 24,1975-25

Harry Truman's Role in Re cognition of Israel:
Humanism, Adherence to Justice, Jewish Vote

PLO India Office—`A Breakthrough'

NEW YORK—The opening only solution. India has its
of a Palestine Liberation Or- own experience in creating
Dewey
and
Henry
Wallace;
Zionism's friends and sup- man would have let 253-239
this kind of state."
In the view of Prof. John
that members of both houses ganization office in India has
Fathi emphasized a "his-
porters
had
their
place
in
the
in
such
an
event,
the
thirty-
come
as
a
"major
break-
Snetsinger of California Poly-
of Congress, labor and other
technic State University, the struggle and Zionism was not nine electoral votes that forces backed the Zionist through" for the organiza- torical link" between India
and Palestinians, and their
quest for the Jewish vote in without its friends in labor States' Rights nominee J. idea, served to contribute to tion.
the 1948 crucial election had and congressional ranks. Strom Thurmond collected in the adamant stand of Harry
Abdul Hamid Fathi, the common desire to create "a
But when the battle reach- the South would have made
secular state." He said that
much to do with Harry S.
S. Truman. Even with the group's representative in In-
Truman's strong support for ed the United Nations there a decision by the House of Jewish vote as a factor, the dia, said that India's move "to establish a state on the
basis of religion will not solve
Israel. The very title of Dr. was a temporary yielding by Representatives necessary.
President's leanings towards was especially important be- communal problems planted
Truman,
especially
when
the
Had
Truman
been
unable
Snetsinger's book, "Truman,
justice for the homeless and cause it was "the first rec-
the Jewish Vote and the American representative at to prevent the traditionally the oppressed and recognition ognition by a non-Arab and by other forces."
the
UN
Warren
Austinn,
pro-
Democratic
voters
from
de-
Creation of Israel" published
government."
en masse to the Wal- of the just claims of the non-socialist
A wise man hides his wis-
by the Hoover Institution on posed a trusteeship and sug- serting
Although African, Asian
backers
of
the
Zionist
ideal.
lace
camp,
the
same
electoral
War, Revolution and Peace, gested this government's op
and some European countries dom, a fool reveals his folly.
Admitting the Jewish vote's had PLO offices, Fathi said
Stanford, Calif., suggests the position to partition. Truman turnabout would have result-
author's view that the cam- reversed that stand and re- ed. However, twice as many influence, which must have India gave the facility in
paign to enlist Jewish voters sumed strong support for the defections from Truman to been inevitable in a crucial India "a diplomatic status."
u
702
would have been re- political year, the human ele-
influenced Truman in many idea of a Jewish state. Wallace
According to Fathi, "India
quired
for
Dewey
to
have
ment
that
motivated
Tru-
pro
Then, in 1948, in the
of his actions.
can do a great deal in con-
won or for the election to
Yet, there is evidence in cess of urging the immediate have been thrown into the man's prompt recognition of vincing Jews and world Jew-
Israel and his demands for ry that a secular, democra-
the research conducted by admission of 100,000 Jewish House of Representatives.
Palestine as a haven for Jew- tic state in Palestine is the
Dr. Snetsinger that Truman refugees to Palestine, the
It is difficult to evaluate
was concerned about the controversy assumed a glo- the manner in which Dewey ish survivors from Hitlerism
status of displaced persons, bal aspect. That's when Tru- and Wallace would have are marks of great glory for
that he sincerely wished to man incurred the enmity of split the ballots that were the Truman chapter in Jewish
help the survivors from Naz- Ernest Bevin and Clement ultimately denied them as a history.
—P. S.
ism in the need that arose Attlee who, in behalf of the result of the president's last-
for an open door for the es- British Labor government, minute dramatic appeal to
capees from the Holocaust opposed the demand for the Jewish voters.
Tekoah Criticizes
who sought refuge in Pales- admission of 100,000 survi-
Inevitably,
Eddie
Jacob-
vors from Nazism. But Tru-
Waldheim Remarks
tine.
son, Truman's close friend
OFFICE ART AND DRAFTING SUPPLY
The facts relating to the man's stand was firm and and his partner in the short-
UNITED NATIONS (JTA)
struggle that emerged in his historic letter to King lived haberdashery business —Israeli Ambassador Yosef
OFFICE FURNITURE
State Department ranks to Saud in defense of justice the President was involved Tekoah sharply criticized
Coolidge
Highway, Oak Park 544-2430
23067
frustrate Truman's pro-Zion- for the homeless sufferers in, had a role of significance Secretary General Kurt
ist and later pro-Israel acti- from Hitlerism solidified his in the appeals American Waldheim's statement ex-
2 PC. CANISTER SET
vities gets extensive cover- position as a supporter of Jews made in Israel's behalf. pressing doubt there would
age in this book, and the au- the Jewish claims for hu-
be
a
third
extension
of
the
Perhaps even more impor-
WITH
thor's compilation of facts re- manitarian dealings with the tant were the activities of UN peace-keeping troops
lating to Truman and the survivors.
mandate in the Mideast.
$15.00
The last week of the 1948 David Niles, a member of
Zionist idea, later the status
Tekoah declared: "If the
Truman's
White
House
staff
of Israel, add immensely to political campaign were crui- who could be considered his United Nations would not
PURCHASE
the historical record on the cial. In an address to a vast Jewish adviser. Niles exerted have deteriorated as it has
audience
at
Madison
Square
subject.
• OFFICE SUPPLIES
in recent years its secretary
Garden, just before the elec- an influence of importance general would not have made
and
he
retained
Truman's
• OFFICE FURNITURE
tion, Truman affirmed his
such unhelpful comments.
strong stand in favor of a confidence during - the Presi- The secretary general should
• OFFICE MACHINES
Jewish state. Dr. Snetsinger's dent's stay in the White be urging the parties to live
House
and
subsequently
at
• COPY SUPPLIES • PRINTING
summation of this score is of
up to their obligations under
special value in the discus- Independence, Mo., when the military separation and
• DRAFTING & ART SUPPLIES
sion of Truman and the in- Truman was negotiating with cease - fire agreements of
Jewish
and
Israeli
leaders
fluence of the Jewish vote.
BUY NOW EL SAVE!
for the establishment of the which the continued pres-
Dr. Snetsinger states:
ence of the UN is an indis-
It is entirely possible, Truman Peace Center at the pensable part."
however, that Truman's em- Hebrew University in Jeru-
phatic shift to a pro-Zionist salem.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN
There are, however, omis-
stance in the closing stages
BRIBES, WE ALWAYS SAy,
sions. For example, Dewey
Step by step , Dr. Snet• of the campaign was, after Stone and Abraham Fein-
TRAdITION:
singer traces the opposition all, one of the key factors in berg, nationally prominent
to Jewish statehood, the his victory. It is probable Jewish leaders who supported
warnings he received from that many votes that were Truman's campaign in 1948,
State Department officials, slipping away to Wallace or must be viewed as having
the advice not to yield to the Dewey were salvaged when been vital in the entire
pressures from Jewish quar- Truman finally came out drama. They had gathered
ters and the memoranda he again four-square for Israel. support for Truman from
This hypothesis is spokesmen in many commu-
kept receiving admonished
him againg Zionist aspira- strengthened in view of the nities and the states that
fact that a switch from Tru- were swung for Truman may
tions.
UNLESS, Of COURSE, ThEy
From the moment he came man to Dewey of 29,294 votes well have traced their voting
PREFER TO START ThEIR OWN:
to the White House in 1945, in three states—Ohio, Cali- strength to the Jewish voters.
Secretary of State James fornia, and Illinois — would
There were many other
Stettinius began to brief have made Dewey president. factors in the Truman story
Although
a
small
shift
of
any
Truman and to organize op-
that may have been of im-
position to Jewish statehood. group might have been mense importance historical-
James Forrestal, who equally significant, the im- ly. In March 1948 the Jewish
emerged among the many in portance of Jewish voters in press of this country acted in
government ranks to oppose these particular states can- unison to appeal to Truman
Zionist hopes, spoke to Tru- not be overlooked. Each had in behalf of the refugees for
man of oil as a factor in con- a large Jewish community, .whom it was necessary to
5.
4.
and Jews notably vote in pro-
sidering the Arab position.
find
refuge
in
Palestine.
This
Many more government of- portions "far in excess of the reviewer, then president of
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267-225
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March
of
that
year
pleading
000
Jews
in
Ohio,
California,
ferred to. Dr. Snetsinger re-
with
the
President
to
be
firm
calls the meeting President and Illinois as a result of the
Roosevelt had with King Saud Israeli policy he proposed in striving for justice for the
survivors from the Holocaust.
of Saudi Arabia, and the en- late in the campaign.
A switch from Truman to The attention that collective
tire discussion relates to Jew-
ish activities, the roles of Dewey of only 12,487 votes appeal attracted nationally
•
Stephen S. Wise and Abba in Ohio and California — or may well be considered as
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46,075,034
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