Evatt Closes U.N. Assembly; Cites Israel’s Admission; is Honored by Israeli Government

Palestine and Israel figured conspicuously in the closing speeches today before the United Nations General Assembly by Assembly president Dr. Herbert V. Evatt and Secretary-General Trygve Lie.

Dr. Evatt cited the admission of Israel as the 59th member as a sign that the U.N. is not only a dynamic Peoples organization but a “growing representative body.” Lie mentioned Palestine as one of the “trouble spots” of the world that the U.N. is facing. “In Palestine and the whole Near East there are many wounds to heal, “Lie said. “The armistice agreements must be followed by permanent peace between Israel and her neighbor states.”

Following adjournment, the Government of Israel expressed its gratitude to Dr. Evatt for the “decisive part” he played throughout the Assembly’s consideration of the Palestine problem from the earliest proceedings on the partition plan to the canner in which he expedited Assembly action on Israel’s admission.

This thanks was transmitted to Dr. Evatt in his office by Israel’s representative to the U.N., Aubrey Eban, in the from of a letter from Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, together with certificates recording the names of Evatt and the Australian Government in the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund at Jerusalem.

Sharett’s letter declared that “we are deeply indebted to the Australian delegation for its consistent and effective support of our cause in the Assembly and its organs through all the stages of the consideration of our problem by the United Nations.” Referring to Dr. Evatt’s personal assistance to the Israeli cause, the letter stated: “Both as Australian Representative and as a distinguished officer of the United Nations, you have by your handling of the Palestine problem added a worthy chapter to your record as a champion of human rights and of international equity, and have contributed vastly to the prestige and authority of the parliament of the world.