Israeli Foreign Minister Calls for Friendly Relations with United States Government

Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, addressing the opening session of the Mapai Youth convention here, declared during the week-end that the Jewish state must have friendly relations with the American Government despite the recent “disputes and unjustified pressure.” Mr. Sharett added: “We will never forget the great help of the U.S.S.R. and we will never concede the right of East European Jews to immigrate to Israel.” Premier David Ben Gurion was also a featured speaker at the convention’s opening session.

Israel through neutrality in world affairs seeks peace, Mr. Ben Gurion told the convention. Israel must take the best of each country, he went on. From the United States, it can learn the lesson of individual freedom, and much is to be learned also from Czechoslovakia and Russia, without becoming a satellite of East or West.

“We do not believe the world is split in two, half black and half white. The belief that there is a dispute only between East and West is untrue. There is, for instance a dispute between the Cominform states of Eastern Europe and Yugoslavia. We believe peace is a possibility among all states and between blocs,” he said.

Mapai, he went on, for 50 years has been based on the principles of national social freedom, mutual aid and the brotherhood of man Therefore, he stated, others may learn Socialism from Mapai, rather than vice versa. He urged the Mapai youth to a great pioneering effort to renew the barren areas and to scientific achievements,” since the future of Israel must be based on the development of industry.”

Mr. Sharett urged the Mapai youth delegates to build an extensive network of agricultural settlements to “fructify the barren areas and especially to establish a chain of semi-military settlements on the borders.” Despite the present truce situation, and despite the fact that Israel seeks peace, he cautioned, “we must not forget the surrounding hostile countries.”

Zalman Shazar, Minister of Education, asked for thousands of educators of youth to work in the immigrant camps. The convention was attended by 6,000 Mapai youth from 152 settlements and 16 Army camps. Resolutions were adopted calling for a mass draft of youth to help in the immigrant camps.

Immigration Minister Moshe Shapira conferred today with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Eliahu Elath, on the possibilities of American immigration to the Jewish state. Earlier, Minister Shapira received a delegation of OSE leaders from Geneva and Paris who are now visiting Israel. The delegation reviewed plans for the extension of OSE programs to this country.

A delegation of the World Union of Jewish Students arrived at Lydda Airport today from Paris. The delegation plans to set up an international study camp to accumulate 250 students.