Ben-gurion Reports on His Talks Abroad Says Trip “was Not in Vain”

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion returned to Israel last night from a 16-day visit to the United States and Britain and declared at the airport that he had good reason to believe that “my Journey was not in vain.”

Referring to his talks in Washington with President Eisenhower, Secretary of State Christian Herter, leading Senators and other political leaders the Prime Minister said: “I am happy to state that there were almost no differences of opinion between the United States administration and myself.”

Speaking in a pouring rain which soaked various dignitaries and a guard of honor, the Prime Minister also mentioned his hotly debated talks in the United States with West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.He said that he had “good reason” to believe that those talks would be beneficial to Israel,

Emerging from an El Al airliner, Mr, Ben-Gurion was met by Michael Bodrov, the Soviet Ambassador, the dean of the diplomatic corps in Israel; Levi Eshkol, the Finance Minister who had been acting Prime Minister in Mr. Ben-Gurion’s absence; other diplomats, Cabinet members, members of Parliament and representatives of the various churches and minorities.

After greeting each member of the welcoming group, the Prime Minister read a brief statement in which he said that in his talks in Washington he had discussed world problems, African and Asian and Middle East questions,and,above all, the consolidation of peace in the area.

He cited his last day in New York when he visited the three seminaries of American Judaism, the Jewish Institute of Religion, the Jewish Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University, He said the visits were his most profound emotional experiences and that his suggestion to the three student bodies that no degree be given to a student unless the student spent one year in Israel had received a favorable reaction.

SEES GREAT POSSIBILITIES FOR ISRAEL IN AMERICAN JEWRY

Addressing later a conference of Mapai, Israel’s labor party, Mr. Ben-Gurion stressed that he sees two great possibilities for Israel in American Jewry: one is immigration to Israel of professional men, intellectuals and skilled workers, and the second is attracting American private capital for investments in Israel undertakings.

The Print Minister said that from now on Israel must pay attention to the younger generation of American Jewry quite apart from appeals for funds and from “material matters, ” but on the basis of spiritual values. He also emphasized that after his meeting in New York with leaders of the United Jewish Appeal and the Bond Organisation, he felt that American Jewry is completely confident in the men who are responsible for conducting the political and economic affairs of the State of Israel.

Political sources, citing the Prime Minister’s comment about the expected benefits to Israel of his talks with Dr.Adenauer,suggested that this might be a reference to reported negotiations for multi-million dollar credits from West Germany.