A national emergency conference convoked by the presidents of 17 American Jewish organizations to consider the present Israel situation issued a declaration tonight calling for a United States security treaty to safeguard Arab-Israel peace and for the sale of arms to Israel to balance the flow of Communist munitions to Egypt.
The conference, concluding two days of deliberations, went on record as opposing any plan for peace in the Middle East which would involve the territorial dismemberment of the State of Israel, holding that it would have the same catastrophic implications as the sacrifice of Czechoslovakia to Hitler.
In the declaration adopted, the conference urged that “in the forthcoming talks between President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Eden, we urge our Government to make at unequivocally clear that we will not participate in any program which requires the truncation or mutilation of Israel.
The conference also called upon the State Department to inform the Arab diplomats in this country that anti-Jewish propaganda activities aimed at setting American against American would not be tolerated. It protested against Arab boycott operations and the denial of visas to American Jews by certain Arab League states.
SEN. SPARKMAN ASSAILS ADMINISTRATION POLICY
Sen. John J. Sparkman of Alabama sharply attacked the Middle East policies of the Administration. He said he had not been able to ascertain just what that policy was and expressed hope that “it will not be another daring attempt to bring us to the brink of war. This could indeed be a most daring venture which could easily produce war.” He called on Secretary of State John Foster Dulles to put into effect in the Middle East his avowed policy of “impartial friendship.”
Addressing the conference at its closing session, the Alabama Senator warned against Soviet penetration of the Middle-East as detrimental to American interests, world peace, and Israel’s immediate survival. He condemned Egypts Communist arms deal, saying that Egypt “apparently opposes our efforts to organize the free world defense in that area.”
Commenting on President Eisenhower’s state of the Union message, Sen. Sparkman referred to the threat of Communist militancy power and the need to maintain an effective system of collective security. Speaking of the Near East, he said “surely that statement by the President must apply to an area where Communist military power is making new and menacing appearances.” He expressed hope the President would move swiftly to implement the State of the Union declaration of inter. He urged the opening of the Suez Canal to Israel maritime traffic.
Philip M. Klutznick,–world president of B’nai B’rith, chairman of the dinner tonight, told the conference that the real issue was the determination of Col. Nasser of Egypt and other Arab leaders to destroy Israel. He warned that “we cannot and must not in our own interest permit Egypt or the Arab nations to become so strong in military strength as to be tempted to wipe out” Israel. He said that until the military balance is re-established by military arms supplies and operative agreements, the aim of peace was elusive.
Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, chairman of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, told the conference that “the excuses now given for not aiding Israel to survive are reminiscent of wartime explanations of alleged Western geopolitical needs which condemned untold numbers of Jews to a needless doom.
He said “the lack of positive, helpful action by the United States weakens the moderates and plays into the hands of the extremists. Every reasonable person is opposed to war, in Israel as here, but sometimes life forces its own logic, sometimes makes people act out of desperation. Time is running out. To meet these dangers I urge wise early helpful action by the United States Government. He said “the United States should not surrender to blackmail.”
Joseph Breslaw, chairman of the American Trade Union Council for Labor Israel, said “we are confident that the powerful voice of 15,000,000 American workers will be heard by our Government” and Israel will be given the opportunity to defend itself against aggression.
DR. GOLDSTEIN HITS ARAB “EXPORT” OF ANTI-SEMITISM TO U.S.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, told the conference that the effect of Arab policy is not only to discriminate against Jewish American citizens in Arab states but “to export anti-Semitism to the United States,” He called on the State Department “to reassert the fundamental rights of American citizens.”
Dr. Goldstein said “American Jewish citizens have the right to expect their government to protect their dignity, their good name and their right to travel and to engage in commerce on an equal footing with citizens of other faiths.” He accused the Arab League of seeking to build up an international conspiracy against the Jewish people. Describing the Arab boycott of business firms, he said that as of two months ago 44 American firms were on the Arab League black-list.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
