President Eisenhower, for the first time since he entered the White House, today received an official delegation of the American Zionist movement, which asked him for reaffirmation of American friendship toward Israel. The President told the delegation:
“Our Government has only the friendliest feelings for Israel and the Arab states, and intends to use its best offices to bring about peace in the Middle East. ” He authorized the delegation to make this part of his statement public.
The delegation, which represented the American Zionist Council, was headed by Louis Lipsky, chairman of the Council. It included Mrs. Rose Halprin, vice-chairman of the Council; Dr. Irving Miller, president of the Zionist Organization of American; Dr. James G. Heller, president of the Labor Zionist Organization of American; Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, president of the Mizrachi Organization of American; Rabbi Jerome Unger, executive director of the Council, and Isaiah L. Kenen, Washington representative of the Council.
ZIONIST DELEGATION PRESENTS SUGGESTIONS TO EISENHOWER
Mr. Lipsky, speaking for the delegation, said upon emerging from the President’s office: “We paid our respects to the President and expressed the hope that, consistent with the highest interests of the United States and world peace, he could take action which would reaffirm American friendship for both Israel and the Arab states and contribute to the peace of the Middle East.
“We suggested that these purposes can be achieved by a direct indication on the part of the United States Government that it a accords the highest priority to the conclusion of an Arab-Israel peace delayed now for some five years; that it is prepared to give impartial assistance to all the people of the Middle East in accordance with their needs; and that it will not send arms to any state which persists in maintaining a state of belligerency against anyone of its neighbors.
“We urged continued economic aid to Israel on the level of the past two years as part of our government’s policy of strengthening friendly democratic nations and in order to enable Israel to complete its humanitarian refugee resettlement program.”
Prince Feisal, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, today called on President Eisenhower to thank him for his hospitality and for his assurance of interest in improving American relations with the Arab states.
Prince Feisal, who is returning to his country after a visit in the United States, told newsmen that he wished to say he received “every kindness and courtesy” and prayed that God might crown President Eisenhower’s work with success “for the betterment of mankind.”
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