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Sharett Honored by Canadian Government; Meets with Prime Minister

December 2, 1955
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Israel Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett arrived here today at the invitation of the Canadian Government, which sent a special airplane to Washington yesterday to bring him to Canada. He met with Canadian Prime Minister E###ls is St. Laurent and was tendered a dinner in the evening by Lester B. Pearson, Minister for External Affairs.

Addressing a press conference at the residence of Michael S. Comay, Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Sharett said that “neither amputation nor Caesarean cuts of Israel territory” can be a solution of the Israel-Arab conflict. He indicated that Israel might be willing to negotiate certain mutual border adjustments, but will not sacrifice her territorial compactness. His statement at the conference, made before more than 40 newsmen was televised tonight and will be broadcast over the radio tomorrow.

Darung his talks today with the Canadian Prime Minister and the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Sharett discussed the Arab-Israel situation in detail. Mr. Pearson has just returned from the Middle East where he visited Egyptian Premier Gamal Abdel Nasser. Subsequently, he discussed Col. Nasser’s views with British Prime Minister Anthony Eden prior to his return to Canada.

The Israel Foreign Minister who was accompanied on his trip from Washington to Canada by Mr. Comay and M. Phibault, Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Canadian Government, arrived in Montreal yesterday and was met at the airport by leading members of the Jewish community and Jewish leaders from all parts of the country. Some of the Jewish leaders flew to Montreal from remote sections of Canada to participate in an emergency meeting with Mr. Sharett at which the Israeli leader gave a full and frank analysis of Israel’s present situation.

The meeting, which was presided over by Samuel Bronfman, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, and at which 140 outstanding Canadian Jewish leaders were present pledged itself to raise a substantial sum for Israel in cash, with spot commitments amounting to approximately $1,500,000. A highlight of the meeting came when the delegation from Toronto handed over to Mr. Sharett a check for $100,000 collected within the last 48 hours over and above the regular, successful campaign for Israel. In the evening, more than 2,000 guests attended an Israel Bond banquet which was arranged in honor of Mr. Sharett.

In Ottawa today, Mr. Sharett also paid a call to Government House and met with the Governor-General of Canada. He was the guest of honor at a reception given in his honor by Ambassador Comay, prior to tonight’s official dinner. Present at the reception were Canadian Cabinet Ministers, members of the Canadian Supreme Court, members of the diplomatic corps and a number of public figures. Mr. Sharett is scheduled to fly back to New York tomorrow, again in a Canadian Government plane.

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