“The resignation of Israel’s Government cannot alter the basic democratic policies of the Jewish state, and particularly the all-important open-door policy for immigrants,” Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, said on arrival here today from Jerusalem. Mr. Morgenthau met with members of the government during his two-week stay in Israel.
“The open-door policy,” Mr. Morgenthau stressed, “has the overhwelming support of the great majority of the people of Israel, regardless of party affiliation. The government crisis is fundamentally a problem of party differences within the coalition, and cannot change the unalterable fact that Israel is dedicated to the freedom of the individual and to the principles of democracy as we Americans practice them.”
Governmental changes in Israel, he pointed out, must not obscure plans to formulate a long-range program to meet that country’s need for economic development. “Israel is the fastest growing democracy in the world,” he said. “There is more building and more pioneering going on in Israel today than in any other country. But it must receive the fullest help from the United States to fulfill its mission of blazing a new road for democracy in the Middle East. Israel’s economic potential must not be wasted,” he warned.
OUTLINES FOUR-POINT AID PROGRAM FOR JEWISH STATE
The former Secretary of the Treasury outlined a four-point aid program for Israel which he described as “vital” for the country’s development. He said that Israel required: 1. Grants-in-aid from the United States Government; 2. A continued high flow of philanthropic funds through the United Jewish Appeal; 3. A rapid increase of private investment capital; 4. Generous subscription by the American public of a projected Israel bond issue.
In commenting on the Israel governmental crisis, Mr. Morgenthau stated: “There may be differences that sharply divide the various political parties, but these parties are united in keeping Israel’s door open to homeless Jews from all parts of the world. I am sure that most people will not fail to see in this dramatic governmental change the healthy and vigorous character of the Israeli people and the democracy they have built up in the past two-and-a-half years.”
He said that during his stay in Israel he gave assurances that the United Jewish Appeal would seek to raise added funds for the transfer of Jews from Iran. He pointed out that emigration assistance provided for these Jews would be in addition to current programs for the transfer to Israel of tens of thousands of Jews from Iraq, Rumania, Tripolitania and other parts of the world.
Mr. Morgenthau expressed satisfaction at the decline of the immigrant population in temporary reception camps, but warned that this could change overnight. He pointed out, however, that 50,000 immigrants are still in the camps and that housing continues high on the list of critical needs. During his two-week stay, Mr. Morgenthau assumed his new post as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
