British Minister Pledges Primacy of London Friendship to Israel

Edward Short, the British Postmaster General, told a British Labor Zionist conference in Brighton last night that, while Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s Labor Government had every intention of maintaining friendly relations with the Arab countries, this would never be at the expense of Israel.

Calling Israel “indestructible,” he said the Jewish State was “a lesson in democratic. socialism.” The meeting was held in connection with the Labor Party’s conference at which it was disclosed that a 33-member Labor Party study mission was leaving for Israel Monday, Harry Nicholas, assistant general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, Britain’s largest trade union, will be a member of the mission. He lauded the achievements of Israel.

A resolution calling on the Government to strengthen British anti-discrimination laws, for more effective protection of the rights of Jews and Negroes, was placed on the agenda of the Labor Party conference here today.

The resolution, which will be submitted for conference action Friday, congratulates the Government for passage of the Race Relations Act but adds that the British labor movement remains disturbed about continuing discriminatory practices in various fields, and about manifestations of anti-Semitism and prejudice against non-whites in Britain. The resolution will be moved by Lord Lee, and seconded by Sidney Goldberg, delegate from the British Labor Zionist Party.

The draft resolution holds that the British Labor movement is particularly disturbed by incitement to hatred contained in neo-Nazi publications, and calls for legislation to make all types of material tending to incite religious or racial hatred an offense punishable under the Race Relations Law.