American Jewish Committee Asks U.S. to Grant Israel’s Plea for Arms

The American Jewish Committee concluded its three-day 49th annual meeting here today with the adoption of a statement on Israel calling for speedy arrangements by the United States to conclude security guarantees applicable to every nation within the Middle East willing to abide by such an agreement. The statement also asked that Israel be permitted to purchase defensive arms in the United States, in order “to protect itself from the threat of war.”

The statement outlined four prerequisites for peace in the Middle East area: 1. No change in the status quo by either side through force; 2. Cession of any and every aggressive act on the part of any nation; 3. Withdrawal of economic boycotts, and 4. Elimination of hate propaganda.

The AJC further called on Secretary of State John Foster Dulles to put into immediate effect his proposals for security guarantees and for settlement of the Arab refugee problem. It suggested that the U.S., together with the Western nations and the United Nations if possible, press for an immediate settlement in the Middle East and peace. The statement hit Soviet interference in the region, its hostility toward Israel and its espousal of the Arab cause at the UN.

In its resolution on Israel the AJC declared that the military and economic aid offered by the Soviet bloc to the Arab states has increased the military potential of the Arabs which “now poses immediate danger of an outbreak which may jeopardize the peace of the world.” It stated that the United States, through economic and technical aid to all people throughout the Middle East, can do much to help raise their standard of living. However, the resolution urged speedy action to solve the Middle East crisis “in view of the large military supplies now being shipped by the Soviet bloc to Egypt and other Arab countries and already received by them.”

CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER MOUNTING ARAB PROPAGANDA IN U.S.

Deep concern was expressed at the session over the mounting tide of Arab propaganda in the United States directed against American Jews and seeking to foment anti-Semitism in the United States. It was charged that both Arab propagandists and native anti-Semites distributing the material “are trying to undermine the position of American Jews” and are confusing “the tinder-box issue of the Middle East.”

Americans were cautioned “to be on guard against Arab propaganda, which seeks to create dissension in American life by putting one American group against another.” However, he made a distinction between such divisive propaganda which exploits the Middle East crisis and an honest difference of views on American foreign policy.

Irving Engel, who was re-elected president of the American Jewish Committee for a third term, stated in his presidential address that it is vital to world peace that the Eisenhower-Eden conferences–which begin in Washington tomorrow–go beyond a “mere declaration of hope” for solution of the Middle East crisis. He urged the President and Secretary of State Dulles to utilize the top level meetings “to work out a program of specifics that will frustrate the Russian design, advance the interests of the free world, and effect a just and enduring peace between the Arab states and Israel.” He characterized the Middle East crisis as “the world’s most highly inflammable tinder box.”

In focussing attention on the Arab-Israel dispute, Mr. Engel stated that the conflict in the Middle East is not a Jewish issue but a problem for all Americans. “So long as the Soviets pour arms into the Arab nations, the danger mounts,” Mr. Engel stressed. “Arab extremists may be lured into aggression by prospects of an easy victory. Israeli extremists might be driven to preventive war by the counsel of their fears. In a world not always willing to yield to moral suasion alone, what can be done to head off an arms race? Let the United States provide enough arms to Israel to act as a deterrent force against Arab extremists, thereby also curbing Israeli extremists.”

Jacob Blaustein, honorary president of the organization, addressing the session, evaluated human rights progress at the last General Assembly of the United Nations in which he participated as one of the members of the United States delegation. He said that he is by no means satisfied with what has happened-thus far in fashioning the covenants of human rights.”

“I therefore am inclined to think that voluntary organizations like the American Jewish Committee should continue to press for proper covenants,” he stated. “As we know in all these matters, the voluntary organizations have to keep in the forefront with respect to them,” he pointed out.

In another resolution adopted at the meeting, the American Jewish Committee charged that “recent Soviet actions reflect continued disregard for human rights” and that mass arrests of Jews and deportations to Siberia “are still going on.” The AJC told Soviet leaders that they “should reform their policies toward their religious and ethnic minorities,” restoring to Jewish citizens full freedom of worship and the right to reopen schools and conduct their own cultural activities.

Zachariah Shuster, European director of the American Jewish Committee with headquarters in Paris, told the delegates that contrary “to the pious protestations of its leaders, Poujadism is anti-Semitic.” There was no doubt that Poujadism has strong fascist colorations, “Mr. Shuster stated. “Poujade himself is the son of a militant member of the Action Francaise, the anti-Semitic group headed by the late Charles Maurras. In 1934, Poujade, himself, was a member of the anti-Semitic Dorriot movement, he reported.