Canadian Jewish Leaders Hold First Meeting with New Prime Minister

Representatives of Canadian Jewry met with Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker for his first interview with Canadian Jewish leaders since he assumed office this summer, and urged him to support the Middle East policies he had advocated as foreign affairs spokesman when his party was in opposition.

Led by Samuel Bronfman, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, and Michael Garber, president of the Zionist Council, the joint delegation discussed with the Prime Minister in a “very friendly” exchange of views on “the interest and concern of all Canadians in the Middle Eastern problem.”

The delegation hailed the Prime Minister’s contribution in recent years “toward a better understanding in Canada of Middle Eastern affairs and toward a strong Canadian policy that would bring peace with justice to Israel and her neighbors.” Referring to statements he had made during the Suez-Sinai crisis, the delegation said these statements had ‘strongly reassured friends of Israel that the Progressive Conservative party sought solutions consistent with the preservation of the State and the people of Israel.”

The Jewish leaders submitted several proposals for consideration by Mr. Diefenbaker who serves also as Secretary of State for External Affairs. He was urged to consider a recommendation that the Canadian Government join with other states “in a constructive program for the resettlement of the Arab refugees among their kinsman in the Arab lands,” and another that Canada continue her role in the United Nations Emergency Force.

The Jewish leaders also urged continued Canadian support for Israel rights in the Golf of Akaba and the Suez Canal; “for open and public discouragement of the Arab boycott and its methods”; for an expression of “international disapproval of Egypt’s persistent claim to belligerent rights”; and for maintaining Israel’s military strength in the face of the continuing and provocative large scale shipments by the Soviet bloc of formidable and modern weapons of war to Syria and Egypt.”