State Department Gets Petition Against Internationalization of Jerusalem

The State Department was urged today to use its influence to “correct” the action taken by the United Nations General Assembly on the internationalization of Jerusalem.

Representatives of church, labor, veterans, education and other public interest groups presented Under Secretary of State James E. Webb with a memorandum. Mr. Webb accepted it for Secretary of State Dean Acheson, The memorandum approves the U.S. vote against the internationalization of Jerusalem. It emphasizes that the resolution was impractical and unenforceable.

The memorandum asks. the U.S. “to use every means within its power to correct the action taken by the United Nations General Assembly and thereby restore the full capacity of the United Nations to assure peace among nations. in favor of the solution which we believe can be reached by Hashemite Jordan and Israel through their continued negotiations for a treaty of peace between them which will insure complete protection of the Holy Places under United Nations jurisdiction.”

Signatories included Dr. Joseph B. Dawson, executive director, Commission on Public Affairs, Baptists of the U.S., Rev. Donald B. Cloward, executive secretary, Council on Christian Social Progress, Northern Baptist Convention; Lilian K. Wat-ford, United Council of Church Women; Michael Ross, director, Department of International Affairs, C.I.O.; Victor E. Devereaux, National Commander, Regular Veterans Association; Leslie Perry, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Jacob Blaustein, president, American Jewish Committee; Philip Schiff, Washington representative, National Jewish Welfare Board.

Also, James Loeb, Jr., national executive secretary, Americans for Democratic Action; L.C. Pakiser, executive director, American Veterans Committee; Elizabeth Christian, National Womens Trade Union Leagues; Russell Smith, National Farmers Union; Elmer W. Henderson, director, American Council on Human Rights; Bernard Weitzer, national legislative representative, Jewish War Veterans, and Dr. Richard B. Fennan, executive secretary, Commission for Defense of Democracy through Education, National Education Association.