Formation of the America-Israel Society, a non-sectarian national organization founded by leaders of various faiths and all walks of American life, was announced tonight at a dinner given by Governor Theodore R. McKeldin of Maryland. Two other Governors, Christian Herter of Massachusetts, and Robert B. Meyner of New Jersey were among those present at the founders’ dinner, held in the Governor’s mansion at Annapolis.
Others who accepted invitations to the dinner include Senators Homer Ferguson and Irving M, Ives; Ralph Damon, president of Trans World Airlines; F. Joseph Donohue, former U.S. Commissioner of the District of Columbia; George T. Newell, vice-president of the Manufacturers Trust Co., New York; Dr. Howard M. Le Sourd of Boston University; Dr. Allan Nevins of Columbia University; Dr. Louis Finkelstein, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America; Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, of Cleveland; Dr. Howard Mumford Jones of Harvard University; and Oscar Chapman, former Secretary of Interior.
In addition to those attending the dinner, founders of the new society include other leaders in the fields of politics, religion, education, literature and art, business and labor. Members pointed out that the new organization is unique in that it is the only group devoted to America-Israel friendship which is inter-faith and representative of all sections of the country and all fields of endeavor.
It is expected that Gov. McKeldin will be elected president of the new society and former U.S. Commissioner Donohue will be chairman of the board of directors. The Society will seek to promote cultural relations and goodwill between the United States and Israel. It plans to establish local chapters throughout the country. The program includes various forms of interchange of ideas and creative art, assistance in the exchange of professors, students, writers, lecturers, and development of a library of cultural materials relating to America-Israel relations.
The society also plans to publish a bulletin devoted to improvement of understanding between the Israel and American peoples, and to promote “hospitality tours” in each of the countries by citizens of the other. It will seek to supplement, not duplicate, the work of other organizations, and will cooperate with all who are concerned with furthering close Israel-America relations.
Gov. McKeldin announced that the founders, in addition to those at the dinner, also include Gov. G. Mennen Williams of Michigan, Senators Paul Douglas, Herbert Lehman, Hubert Humphrey, Estes Kefauver, Bishop Bernard J. Shell of Chicago, Bishop G, Bromley Oxnam of Washington, Louis Bromfield, Dr. Henry Steele Commager, John Cowles of the Cowles Publications, Justice Felix Frankfurter, Fanny Hurst, Archibald Macleish, George Meany, Charles Munch, Dr, Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Daniel Poling, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Sherwood, Herbert Bayard Swope, Chancellor William P. Tolley, and Dr. W. Lindsay Young of Los Angeles.
Ambassador Abba Eban, in his remarks at the dinner, said that present difficulties of Israel are similar to those overcome by the founding fathers of the United States. He hailed the formation of the society and described it as a “heartening” milestone.
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