American Jewish Committee Rejects Creation of Central Jewish Authority

In a strongly worded resolution, the American Jewish Committee today rejected “any attempt to create a central authority among Jews in the United States.” The Committee stressed that “the principle of centralized control” is “contrary to the American experience.” The statement was adopted at the final session of the Committee’s 54th annual meeting here.

The Committee emphasized that it “firmly believes in cooperative efforts on the part of various communal organizations to provide on a voluntary basis for exchange of information and ideas, fruitful consultation and constructive collaboration in specific matters. “However, the resolution stated, although the Committee will continue “to seek such cooperation and consultation” it rejects “the principle of centralized control whether it be in the name of ‘Jewish unity’ or of ‘efficiency.'”

The Committee stated that centralized control reduces the vitality and diminishes the creativity of Jewish national organizations. Such action, it said, inevitably creates “a false image of the Jewish group.”

The activities of the American Jewish Committee in the field of protecting civil rights were lauded by President Kennedy in a message read out last night at the dinner-meeting of the organization by Secretary of Labor Arthur J. Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg, who was the principal speaker at the meeting, emphasized in his address that the Kennedy Administration is determined to wipe out racial and religious bigotry and discrimination in this country.

“I am glad to associate myself with you in the achievement of an America for every citizen and resident of this land, which is free to pursue those goals which his talent and capacity permits, unhindered by artificial barriers of ignorance or prejudice,” President Kennedy said in his message. “I am determined that my Administration, at all levels, shall exercise affirmative leadership to discharge both its Constitutional obligation and its moral duty to achieve equal opportunity for all. In this great undertaking I am glad that I can continue to enjoy the support of the American Jewish Committee and like-minded groups.”

GREENMAN ELECTED A. J. C. PRESIDENT; SUCCEEDS EHRMANN

Frederick F. Greenman, a prominent New York attorney and education and civic leader, was elected today as the 10th president of the American Jewish Committee at the annual meeting. He succeeds Herbert B. Ehrmann of Boston, who held the post since 1959 and who has been named an honorary president of the Committee. Louis Caplan of Pittsburgh, was elected chairman of the executive board.

In his presidential report last night, Mr. Ehrmann charged that United States foreign policy in the Middle East has been marked by “national self-humiliation and appeasement of dictators.” He said that the United States Government has “unwittingly created a grave danger” by acquiescing in “boycott and lawless acts” on the part of certain Arab countries.

Mr. Ehrmann warned that by virtue of continuing U. S. acquiescence in war-like and illegal acts by President Nasser, “he has become the single greatest obstacle to peace in the Middle East.” As a consequence, Mr. Ehemann said, “other Arab statesmen less empire-minded, less demagogic and more peacefully inclined, can make no headway against the vitriolic propaganda of the dictator whose leadership we have so long sustained.” He listed the following acts accepted by the United States Government which he said has “encouraged the Arab boycott.”

1. American cargo ships touching at Israeli ports have been blacklisted by Arab countries. Therefore, “oil for the American Navy in that area, agricultural products for the relief of the Arab populations and surplus commodities may not be carried by any American vessel on this blacklist.”

2. American citizens with Jewish sounding names “are not permitted to land or disembark from regularly scheduled airlines in certain Arab lands.”

3. Americans of Jewish faith, serving in any branch of the United States Military service, may not serve in any Arab countries. In addition, Jewish actors are barred from these countries and even non-Jewish artists who have shown friendliness for Israel are boycotted.

4. The rights and property of American business men–whatever their faith–are threatened should they have dealings with the Government of Israel.

5. American companies who number among their executive and managerial personnel one or more Jews are similarly barred.

Mr. Ehrmann stressed that “each of our capitulations has encouraged the boycott.” He said that because of “our acceptance of such humiliations” particular Arab countries “demand more and more collaboration from us.” Despite appeasements, he stressed, “Mr. Nasser has not become a friend of the United States. He has consistently voted with the Communist bloc in the United Nations; he was among the first to withdraw his contingent of troops from the Congo; and only two weeks ago he rushed to the support of Fidel Castro, verbally at least, in an echo of Mr. Khrushchev’s tirades.”