U.S. Reports at United Nations on Egyptian Maltreatment of Jews

The United States, for the first time publicly, made it known here that it has information about Egyptian maltreatment and deportation of Jews. At the same time Israel, also for the first time, presented to the UN General Assembly documentary proof of the extent of Egypt’s anti-Jewish actions.

“The United States has received information,” said U.S. representative James J. Wadsworth, “concerning the treatment of certain nationals and stateless persons in Egypt. The information which is presently available to the United States indicates that an indeterminate number of persons, including British and French nationals, and persons of Jewish origin in Egypt, have been subjected to pressure and intimidation and, in some instances, have been ordered deported.”

Telling the UN General Assembly that the American in Cairo has been requested to “bring to the attention of the Government of Egypt the concern of the American people over these reports, “Mr. Wadsworth continued:” The United States hopes that everything possible will be done to ensure that measures will not be employed which will discriminate unjustly against human beings merely because of racial or religious grounds or on the basis of foreign nationality.”

ISRAEL CHARGES EGYPT WITH “DESPOILING” ITS ANCIENT JEWISH COMMUNITY

In presenting documentary proof on Egypt’s maltreatment of Jews, Abba Eban, head of the Israel delegation, told the UN General, Assembly that “broad issues of humanity” were involved here, in which Israel was deeply concerned. Hundreds of people expelled from Egypt were reaching Israel’s shores, so that his country had become the best center of information as to this “rampant xenophobia,” Mr. Eban said.

The “ancient Jewish community” of Egypt had been “despoiled,” the charged. Several thousand Jews of foreign nationality had been imprisoned in Cairo, hundreds had been interned, among them women. Practically all the leaders of the Jewish community were under arrest. The fate of about 900 Jews, held as hostages of deported families, was unknown.

There were about 50,000 Jews in Egypt, of which 15,000 were of foreign nationality, 15,000 stateless, and the rest Egyptian citizens, the Israel diplomat stated. The Egyptian decree made it possible to denationalize all those whose citizenship was acquired after 1900, he charged. “Stringent economic measures” were taken against Jews. No Jewish lawyer was allowed to practice, he said. Those expelled had to sign a document that they would never again return to Egypt, he charged.

Mr. Eban listed several Egyptian decrees, which placed Jewish enterprises under governmental sequestration and named Jewish persons liable to “arbitrary arrest.” Thus, a legislative act, purportedly dealing with breaches of security, was directed toward people of one religion only and was thus a clear act of discrimination. Israel had in its possession actual expulsion orders, phrased in “very brusque terms,” he said. Personal items of jewelry and of sentimental importance were taken from the expellees, as shown by receipts now in Israel’s possession, he declared.