Jewish Delegation Meets with Secretary Rusk on Middle East Issues

Secretary of State Dean Rusk was told today at an hour-long meeting with American Jewish leaders on recent Middle Eastern developments that “a firm and clear statement by the United States Government and firm and clear action would be the most effective deterrent to aggression.”

This was made known after the meeting in which the Jewish delegation voiced concern over events in the Middle East, especially Arab plans to block Israel’s water sources and the military imbalance caused by the continued flow of Soviet arms to Egypt.

The group was headed by Dr. Joachim Prinz, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Included were Rabbi Philip S. Bernsterin, chairman of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee; Mrs. Rose Halprin, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel–American Section; George Maislen, president of the United Synagogue of America; Mrs. Joseph Willen, president of the National Council of Jewish Women, and Yehuda Hellman, executive director of the Conference of Presidents.

Rabbi Prinz said his group was not at liberty to make known Mr. Rusk’s response but felt the Secretary had given careful attention to the points raised. Among the subjects covered were “problems arising from Nasser’s blackmail” including boycott measures affecting American commerce. Rabbi Prinz said it was not enough for the United States merely to condemn the Arab boycott. He thought concrete steps against it, such as the pending Williams-Javits anti-boycott bill were needed. He urged support of this measure.

Emphasis was placed on the rising danger from the Arab water diversion threat and the regional arms imbalance. Rabbi Prinz said that a proper arms balance would act as a deterrent to aggression. The issue of continued American aid to Egypt was not raised.