For the first time in history, the blue-and-white flag of Israel was raised in the Western Hemisphere when the S,S. Haifa was dedicated here today at ceremonies at Potts Cove Pier, in Queens. Several hundred persons participated in the dedication, which was sponsored by the American-Israeli Shipping Company, agents for the owners of the vessel.
Bartley Crum, former U.S. member of the Anglo-American Inquiry Committee on Palestine, opened the proceedings with a short address after which Capt. Terrence Bond, of the Haifa, turned the Canadian flag over to Maxwell T. Stuart, Canadian Trade Commissioner, and in turn received the Israeli flag from Gideon Straus, Israeli Consul to Canada. The vessel is a former Canadian Victory ship.
A congratulatory cable from President Chaim Weizman was read at the dedication. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Eliahu Elath, who was unable to attend the affair, sent a telegram from Washington. Other speakers included Aubrey S. Eban, Israeli representative to the United Nations, Rep. Jacob Javits, and Julius Simon, president of the Palestine Economic Corporation.
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