Conference on Science Opens in Rehovoth; Representatives of 35 Countries Attend

More than 70 leading authorities in the fields of health, public health administration and medicine convened here at the opening of the fourth “Rehovoth” conference on science in the developing nations. The parley is referred as the “Rehovoth” conference because its first gathering, at Rehovoth, was held seven years ago under the sponsorship of the Weizmann Institute of Science, whose president then was Foreign Minister Abba Eban.

Representatives of 35 countries at the opening conference last night were greeted by Israel’s President Zalman Shazar and Mr. Eban. One of the principal speakers today was Dr. M.G. Candau, director-general of the World Health Organization, a United Nations Specialized Agency with headquarters in Geneva. Among the delegates were the Health Ministers of Madagascar, Dahomey, Rwanda, Gambia, Gabon, Lesatha, Kenya and Upper Volta. Rumania is the only Communist state represented. A delegation from Turkey arrived for the conference today.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Eban noted that Jerusalem was now “fulfilling her eternal historic vocation so soon after her danger and ordeal.” He reminded his listeners that the first three Rehovoth conferences were devoted to the relationship of science to the developing countries. The conference, which convened on the Hebrew University campus for its first two days, will adjourn to its former site at Rehovoth on Thursday.

Dr. Candau told the conference that, despite unprecedented national and international aid to underdeveloped countries on a scale never known before, “the gap between the developing nations and underdeveloped lands in increasing. The main problem is the availability of knowledge to ensure the best use of resources. This is mainly a question of education.”