U.S. special representative to the state of Israel James G. McDonald arrived today and was loudly cheered by a large crowd that gathered outside the seaside Gat Rimon Hotel, which will serve as headquarters for both the American and Russian diplomatic missions to the Jewish state.
At a meeting with the press, McDonald, replying to a correspondent’s question as to whether he had brought any message from President Truman, said: “In a way, I am the message.” Regarding the question of United States de jure recognition of Israel, McDonald said: “We will see in the course of actual developments.”
“Presumably the President knew my record when he appointed me for this job,” he stated, “I never represented my government before and now I am not as free as previously. I am deeply touched by the friendliness of this reception — I feel at home,” he said. He told of his recent meeting with the Pope in Rome and revealed that they discussed the Holy Places in Jerusalem. The U.S. envoy expects to confer with Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok tomorrow. He spent the last few days in Switzerland, where he met with Israeli President Dr. Chaim Weizmann.
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