American Jewish Committee Leaders Outline Views to Argentine Jewry

The deep interest of American Jewry in Israel was emphasized at a press conference here today by Irving M. Engel, president of the American Jewish Committee, who is heading a delegation of his organization now visiting Latin American countries for the first time, and developing closer contact with Jewish communities there.

“We, the American Jewish Committee, have been giving our unstinting support to Israel since the establishment of the Jewish State, and have played an important role in its creation,” Mr. Engel said. “We did not come to Argentina because we felt that the Jews here needed our help, like the Jews in North Africa for instance. But we came to exchange views with Jewish leaders here, to establish collaboration for the future, and to work together for the benefit of Israel,” the AJC president stressed. He emphasized that his organization is opposed to the creation of an international body representing all Jews of the world, but cooperates with all Jewish communities.

Jacob Blaustein, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee, told the press conference that the delegation is being received on Tuesday by Argentine President Frondizi, but that it would not discuss with him matters affecting Argentine Jewry. He said that the purpose of the delegation was to obtain a better knowledge of the Jews in Latin America and to establish a better mutual understanding with Jews and non-Jews there.

Dr. John Slawson, executive vice-president of the AJC, emphasized the advantage of each Jewish community in each country working through its own government, and said that the delegation is repaying a visit which leaders of Argentine Jewry made to New York last year to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of the American Jewish Committee.