A resolution asking the United States Government to provide Israel with arms for legitimate self-defense purposes as envisaged by the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, was adopted last night by the American Jewish Committee at the conclusion of its three-day national executive board meeting here. The resolution pointed out that “there is a definite likelihood that war will break out in the area once Egypt and other Arab countries receiving Czech arms have learned to use them, unless they know Israel has sufficient defensive arms to protect itself.”
“Once adequate defensive arms have been obtained by Israel, serious consideration should then be given to the limitation of further military supplies to the area,” the AJC resolution declared. It welcomed the U.S. Government initiative in pressing for UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold’s mission to the Middle East and expressed appreciation of his achievements. However, the AJC added. “the basic antagonisms unfortunately remain unabated.”
After reaffirming its support of Secretary Dulles proposals last August for settlement of the Middle East problem, the AJC asserted that Mr. Dulles’ long-range objectives will not be accomplished until the “pall of fear” is removed and the basic conditions of peace established. “These include,” the AJC explained, “no change of the status quo by either side through force of arms; cessation of any and every aggressive act on the part of any nation; withdrawal of all blockades and economic boycotts, and elimination of hate propaganda.” Other resolutions said:
1. “That no credence can be given to assurances of Communist leaders that they have renounced oppressive policies” against minorities, including Jews, until they have freed victims of anti-Semitic purges from prisons, retracted the fantastic anti-Semitic charges at former purge trials and restored religious and cultural freedom to its Jewish citizens.
2. That “to the free world, the treatment accorded ethnic and religious minorities in Morocco and Tunisia will be a measure of the wisdom and responsibility with which these nations enter into their independence.” The AJC resolution added that it “sincerely hopes” that the two governments “will embrace these constructive policies of equality and freedom which alone may secure the economic social and political well-being of their peoples.”
3. The Government of West Germany should take immediate action against “an upsurge of anti-democratic and anti-Semitic literature” in their country.
4. “It is satisfying to have been advised” that the chairmen of the Republican and Democratic National Committees and representative of the major religious faiths will join in a fair election practices declaration against the injection of racial or religious bias in the forthcoming Presidential election campaign.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
