A total of $19, 750, 000 in State of Israel Bonds was sold this weekend to launch the 1963 campaign for State of Israel Bonds, it was announced today at the concluding session of the inaugural conference for Israel Bonds meeting in Miami. The results of the initial phase of the 1963 campaign were announced by Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice-president of the Israel Bond Organization, who estimated that cash sales of Israel Bonds since 1951 would pass the $600, 000, 000 mark within the next few days.
A highlight of the conference, which opened the drive to sell $75, 000, 000 in Israel bonds during 1963 to help finance development and immigrant absorption, was a celebration of Israel’s 65th anniversary last night, at which Trygve Lie, first Secretary-General of the United Nations, was the guest of honor. More than 1,500 Jewish leaders from the United States and Canada attended the conference.
Another of the principal speakers was Lord Edwin Herbert Samuel, Viscount of Carmel and Texteth, noted educator and authority on Israel, who told the conference: “I have lived in Palestine and Israel for 45 years. When I am there, I am quite happy about the situation in the Middle East. Only when I come to America and people ask me so many anxious questions do I begin to feel anxious too. But, in reality, there is no cause for anxiety. Israel, under Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, can well look after itself.”
SAMUEL LAUDS ISRAEL’S DEMOCRACY; SCHWARTZ STRESSES ESSENTIAL PROJECTS
Paying tributes to the United Nations, to Mr. Lie, and to another of the speakers at the event, Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, deputy majority leader of the Senate, Lord Samuel expressed appreciation for the help given Israel by the United States, and noted that Israel now helps other “less fortunate” countries in Asia and Africa.
He pointed out that Israel is “one of the few new states in Asia and Africa that has succeeded in remaining a democracy, ” stressing that Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan and Ghana “have all degenerated into dictatorships, often under soldiers. ” But, in Israel, he emphasized, “the Knesset, the Parliament, is still supreme.”
Dr. Schwartz told the conference: “The outstanding result of this year’s opening effort reflects the awareness by the Jewish community of Israel’s continuing need for economic development capital. Immigration is going on at a high rate, and the newcomers must find homes and jobs. The center of immigrant settlement will be the Negev desert, which must be brought up to the economic level of the rest of the country.
“Essential projects for this purpose include the Jordan River-Negev irrigation pipeline, which must be completed by the beginning of next year. The new port at Ashdod, on the Mediterranean south of Tel Aviv, which will serve as the outlet to the West for the products of the Negev; the establishment of new towns and settlements; the exploitation of oil, copper, phosphates, potash and other mineral resources; the construction of roads, harbors and railways, and the building of at least 20, 000 housing units during 1963.”
Asserting that there will be no peace in the world without a free and independent Israel, Mr. Lie declared that “history will record the establishment of the State of Israel as one of the happiest decisions of the free world. ” He paid tribute to Israel’s achievement in developing its economic structure with the aid of Israel bonds, and stressed the significance of Israel as an example and guide to many of the underdeveloped nations of the world.
The year 1963 was hailed as a dramatic turning point in Israel’s economic development by Samuel Rothberg, national chairman of the conference, who said that it would mark the beginning of the redemption of the first Israel bonds issued 12 years ago, when Mr. Ben-Gurion made a special triap to the United States to float the first issue. Starting May 1st, the State of Israel will pay out to holders of 1951 Savings Bonds a total of $24, 500, 000 in principal and interest during 1963 alone, it was announced.
FEINBERG, LASKEY, BERINSTEIN, HUMPHREY ADDRESS PARLEY
Other principal speakers at the Israel 15th anniversary celebration included Abraham Feinberg, president of the Israel Bond Organization; Lawrence G. Laskey, chairman of the executive committee; and Morris W. Berinstein, member of the national executive committee and board of governors, and former general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal.
Senator Humphrey said that the more advanced nations of the West should “follow Israel’s example of sponsoring programs of direct technical assistance and training in underdeveloped countries of Latin America.
“Israel has already shown what a small country with limited funds can do in the field of foreign aid. Now, that nation is sending technicians to Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. Israel’s most recent program is to train 200 Latin American students in modern agricultural methods during the next year. Israel is leading the way in a demonstration of the value of human resources.”
The conference received cabled greetings from the top leaders of the Israeli Government, including Mr. Ben-Gurion; Finance Minister Levi Eshkol; and Foreign Minister Golda Meir.
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