Reports on the Objectives of His Trip to the Western Countries

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion returned from his trip to the West today and declared: “I have no doubt the trip was worthwhile, although it does not solve and was not intended to solve our problems. In any case, I did not plan this as an objective, and I was not disappointed anywhere. On the contrary, I had some pleasant, fruitful surprises.”

Mr. Ben-Gurion said he had two objectives for his tour to the West. The objectives, he said, were “to explain and clarify our position and needs–this object was achieved fully”; secondly, “I tried to clarify the attitudes of the leaders of the four States I visited toward Israel. In some points, the results were even better than I could expect.” An additional objective, he said, was to meet with leaders of the Jewish communities in the countries he visited.

In speaking of his visit to the Jewish communities, he pointed out that, in the United States, he met with leaders of the American Zionist Council, the Presidents Conference of Major Jewish National Organizations, Hadassah, the United Jewish Appeal, the Israel Bond Organization, the American Jewish Committee, Poale Zion, leaders of the Jewish labor movement, B’nai B’rith, and many individuals.