30,000 Jews Greet Sharett in Buenos Aires; Gets Huge Ovations

More than 30,000 Jews turned out for a mass rally hire yesterday to greet Israel Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, in one of the greatest demonstrations of unity with the State of Israel seen here.

The rally was the culmination of a week-end in which the Israeli leader appeared in three different synagogues to participate in services and to meet and speak with the congregants, inaugurated the United Israel Campaign and was the guest of honor at a reception tendered by the major Jewish organizations here. He also attended a meeting of Mapai Party leaders. The Minister’s every public move is accompanied by crowds of cheering Jews. The greeting most often heard among Jews during his visit has been “gut Yom Tov.”

In an address repeatedly interrupted by lengthy ovations, Mr. Sharett told the mass meeting yesterday that he was happy to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Israel Independence Day with them. He reviewed the accomplishments of the Jewish State in these years and paid the highest tribute to the leadership of Premier David Ben Gurion. He also pointed out that President Juan Peron has stated that loyalty to Argentina is fully compatible with “your duties to Israel,” and urged Argentine Jews to send their sons and daughters to Israel.

At the inauguration of the United Israel Campaign the hundreds of volunteer campaign workers rose to their feet in tribute to Mr. Sharett and pledged to increase last year’s collections by 50 percent. Among the contributors present, personal contributions were doubled and tripled and, in one instance, increased tenfold. Mr. Sharett appealed to Argentine Jewry to help “secure forever the future of Israel and the Jewish people.”

President Peron has placed at Mr. Sharett’s disposal an Argentine, Air Force plane with which he and his party will fly to Enter Rios Province later this week to visit the Jewish agricultural colonies which were first settled over half a century ago.