Cardinal Spellman Says His Meeting with Weizmann Did Not Settle Jerusalem Issue

The office of Cardinal Spellman, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, issued a statement last night emphasizing that there are still “fundamental” divergencies between the Catholic Church and the Israeli President, Dr. Chaim Weiznann, with regard to the status of Jerusalem.

The statement was issued after Dr. Weizmann told reporters prior to his leaving the United States that his talk with Cardinal Spellman on April 28 “cleared up several Important misunderstandings as far as Jerusalem is concerned.” The Israeli President emphasized that the talk did not result in final settlement of the problem but “cleared the way for a settlement.” He revealed that his meeting with Cardinal Spellman had been arranged by President Truman.

The statement issued by Cardinal Spellman’s office reads: “In reply to requests of the press for comment on the statement made by President Chaim Weizmann of Israel that at a meeting with Cardinal Spellman several important misunderstandings on the Palestine matter were cleared up it seems necessary to state first of all that on the occasion of the meeting the Cardinal made it clear that he had no authority to make any agreements on any matters concerning the position of the Catholic Church in Palestine.

“The Cardinal stated that he was one of the bishops who, at the annual meeting in Washington, signed a statement asking that the internationalization of Jerusalem, as agreed on by the United Nations on Nov. 29, 1947, and then accepted by the Zionists, be implemented.

“Dr. Weizmann stated that ‘our aims in the Jerusalem question though not identical are nevertheless reconcilable.’ This is a confirmation by Dr. Weizmann himself that there is still existing divergency of views. Unfortunately, this divergence reaches matters fundamental, namely, whether internationalization, as agreed upon among the United Nations, will be effected or evaded.”