American Jewish Committee Adopts Policy on Israel; Blaustein is Elected President

A Statement of Views outlining the attitude of the American Jewish Committee toward the state of Israel as well as toward internal American problems concerning Jews, was adopted here today at the closing session of the three-day annual meeting of the organization. Jacob Blaustein was unanimously elected president of the Committee, succeeding Judge Joseph M, Proskauer.

The Statement of Views, prepared by a special committee under the chairmanship of Alan M, Stroock and sponsored by Proskauer and Blaustein, lauds the U.S. Government for granting recognition to Israel, hails President Truman’s stand on civil frights in this country, and praises the United Nations for its adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights. Constituting a revision of the Committee’s basic policy footed in 1943 the Statement reads:

"We of the American Jewish Committee are associated under the mandate of our barter, adopted in 1906, to prevent the infraction of the civil and religious rights of Jews in any part of the world and to secure equality of economic, social and educational opportunity. We Join with all other Americans, of whatever creed or color, the devote themselves to the continued fight against those who through bigotry and prejudice endeavor to imperil the rights of any group in this land and thus divide our country and undermine the foundations of American liberty.

"We join with men of good will everywhere in the effort to obtain for all mankind the essential human rights, as set out in America’s basic documents of freedom. We hail the historic Report of the President’s Committee on Civil Rights and the Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. We call upon our own nation and the nations of the world to protect and enforce these rights by every appropriate means, domestic and international. We urge upon our own and all other countries the adoption of liberal, Just and non-discriminatory immigration laws.

WILL AID UP BUILDING OF ISRAEL WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF AMERICAN INTERESTS

"United with our brethren of all faiths in the bond of American citizenship, a cherish the ideals and traditions of America and dedicate ourselves to the common effort to develop and enrich its cultural and political life. We reaffirm our devotion to cur religion and pledge ourselves to maintain and perpetuate the vitality of for spiritual heritage, which has constituted and will continue to constitute a basic contribution to the development of civilization and democracy.

"We hold the establishment of the State of Israel to be an event of historic significance. We applaud its recognition by our own and other governments. We look forward to Israel’s assumption of its full place among the family of nations as a government guaranteeing complete equality to all its inhabitants, without regard to race, creed or rational origin, and as an advocate of liberty and peace in the Near East and throughout the world. Citizens of the United States are Americans and citizens of Israel are Israelis; this we affirm with all its implications; and just as our own government speaks only for its citizens, so Israel speaks only for its citizens. Within the framework of American interests, we shall aid in the up building of Israel as a retail spiritual and cultural center and in the development of its capacity to provide a free and dignified life for those who wish to make it their home.

"In these critical times, when totalitarian forces and ideas again threaten the liberties of the world, we re-dedicate ourselves to the struggle for the maintenance are and advancement of individual dignity and freedom," the statement concludes.

Blaustein, after his election, pledged his "devotion and consecration to the tremendous task" of furthering the American Jewish Committee’s work in defense of Jews and for human rights in the United States and abroad. "We have been, and are, passing through the most momentous period in all the world and in the while history of our people. Much has been done, but there is still considerable unfinished business," he said. He paid particular tribute to Judge Proskauer, who served as president of the organization for six years.

In a report on activities in I948, delivered later in the day, Blaustein traced the contributions made by the American Jewish Committee in the successful effort to further U.N. adoption of genocide and human rights measures, both through conjuration with U.N. organs and through educational efforts in the United States.

Recalling the Committee’s efforts in support of Jewish aspirations and the expansion of democracy in Palestine and the Near East, Blaustein pointed up the support which the Committee had given to the establishment of Israel, including requests to the American government "to help effectuate partition; to support an adequate territorial settlement that would make possible the immigration, settlement and rehabilitation of a large number of Jews in Israel; and urged speedy action to grant the new State de jure recognition, appropriate reenforcement of its economy, and active support for its admission to the United Nations."

Urging that a spirit of fraternity be developed between Jews and persons of other faiths in this country, Judge Proskauer declared: "It still remains for us to do all .that lies in us to make effective the guarantees of our own Bill of Rights and of the Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations. It still remains for us to combat bigotry and intolerance in all their manifestations and to conform the American say of life to the American philosophy of equality and brotherhood, not only in the political scene but in the economic and social phases of our everyday existence."

Dr. John Slawson, executive director of the A.J.C., addressing the concluding session, said: "There is no doubt that social anti-Semitism in this country today is prevalent on a vast scale. However, the emergency type of treatment required in for ### years to take care of rabble rousers and untoward incidents is required in decreasing frequency. We can now, in increasing measure, direct our efforts toward a preventive approach by dealing with the basic aspects of the problem."

Irving M. Engel was elected-chairman of the executive committee, while Victor S. Riesenfeld was named chairman of the administrative committee. Gov. Herbert H. le### and Samuel D. Leidesdorf were re-elected honorary vice-presidents, and Dr. Slaw### was re-elected executive vice-president. Nathan M. Ohrbach of New York was named nice-president, as were Herbert B. Ehrmann, Boston; Milton W. King, Washington; Fred Lazarus, Jr., Cincinnati; Ralph E, Samuel, New York; David Sher, New York; Jesse H. Steinhart, San Francisco; Stroock; and Frank L. Sulzberger, Chicago. Edward A. Norman as re-elected secretary. Albert H. Lieberman of Philadelphia, was chosen as treasure and Gustave M. Berne, associate treasurer. Sixteen new members were elected to the executive committee.