B’nai B’rith President Hails United States Move on Jerusalem

The decision of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles to have the new American Ambassador to Israel present his credentials to the Israel Government in Jerusalem, was hailed here this week-end by Philip Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith, at a meeting of the organization’s board of governors.

Mr. Klutznick suggested that this development might serve as a "bellwether" for the United Nations to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

He told the board of governors that this step may stimulate the United Nations to recognize that an Israel without Jerusalem is almost as unthinkable as an Israel without security and without the friendship of America and the Western Powers. He expressed his "personal conviction" that Mr. Dulles would find a way to establish security in the Near East. He termed the Jerusalem episode a "harbinger" that marked the "beginning of a series of events which will surely improve the relationship between America and Israel and will ultimately bring peace… with security and status for Israel."

The board of governors adopted resolutions asking that the shipment of U.S. arms to the Arab states be suspended until those states give assurances of their willingness to enter into negotiations for peace with Israel and to join in the common defense of the area against aggression.

Other resolutions condemned the arrest without trial of Jews in Egypt and protested the denial by the Soviet Union of the rights of religious groups to worship in whatever manner they please.

Henry E. Schultz, chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League, made a report which pointed out the failure of the out-going Congress to pass any civil rights legislation, and the "lack of self-restraint on the part of some of its investigating committees." He called for adoption of rules of fair conduct "so that the essential process of detecting subversives does not lead to the enduring injury of innocent people."