Pan-american Jewish Parley Pledges Aid to Israel, Issues Declaration

A resolution pledging the support of Latin American Jewry for the State of Israel in its current crisis and a “Montevideo Declaration” drafted by leading non-Jewish friends of Israel from a number of Latin American countries were adopted by acclamation as the historic Pan-American Jewish conference closed here last night. Some 15,000 persons crammed into the Penarol Palace here and the square outside the building shouted their approval during the reading of the Declaration, which expressed solidarity with Israel and asked the entire civilized world to defend and aid the Jewish State.

Earlier, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive and president of the World Jewish Congress warned the conference against the “illusion” that establishment of the State of Israel had guaranteed its continuing security. Israel, he said, was born in “one of the most critical moments in history” and the entry of the Soviet Union upon the Middle East scene has converted that region to the number one” problem of international politics.

Dr. Goldmann stressed that the situation would be critical for Israel even if no war breaks out, since continued Arab resistance prevents the organic integration of Israel into the Middle East. At the same time, he insisted, Israel must continue to seek defensive arms despite repeated refusals. Replying to American suggestions that Israel go to the United Nations for protection, Dr. Goldmann characterized United Nations intervention as “slow and complicated.”

He stressed as positive factors the support of Israel by millions of organized workers in the United States and by public figures including Congressmen and Senators. He emphasized the importance for Israel of favorable public opinion in Latin America.

Turning to the financial problem faced by Israel, the Zionist leader said that Israel must obtain weapons so that even without a war she will be able to negotiate with the Arabs “from strength, not from weakness.” He added that “it would be our greatest crime to let down the North African Jewish immigration to Israel” because of a failure to supply the needed funds. Urging his listeners “not to take it easy, Dr. Goldmann warned that the Jews were entering a period of tremendous responsibility” towards Israel and “if we are not to be condemned historically” the Jews must “avert a second tragedy in our generation.” The political and material power of Israel rests today on world Jewry, not on the Western Powers, he concluded.

LATIN-AMERICAN STATESMEN STRESS ISRAEL’S ROLE AS A. DEMOCRACY

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Dr. Santiago Rompani pledged the support of his government and people in the fight against tyranny. Prof. Enrique Rodrigues. Fabregat, Uruguay’s delegate to the United Nations, Called Israel a “great nation” and the “only true democracy” in the Middle East. He asserted that the “wish to internationalize Jerusalem is like wishing to internationalize Rome.” He insisted that Jerusalem must not be occupied by Arab armies, and called for a Christian “crusade to give all of Jerusalem” back to its legitimate owners–the Jewish people.

Chilean Senator Raul Retig, who flew to Montevideo especially to attend the closing session, warned that the world must learn from history that the abandonment of one democracy endangers all democracies and creates “a crisis in faith and confidence in democracy.” He called for action on the part of all democracies to halt aggression and secure a normal existence for Israel. Reciting the history of Jewish dispersion and persecution under various tyrannies from the Egyptian to the Hitlerian, Sen. Retig predicted that the Jews and all free people will oppose any form of slavery–religious, political or social.

Other speakers included: Americo Ghioldi, Argentine Socialist leader; A. Lapro, editor of the Uruguayan daily “El Dia;” Montevideo Mayor Jose Patche, and Prof. Carlos Sabat Ercasty, chairman of the Israel-Uruguayan Cultural Institute.

Some 400 Jewish youths from a variety of countries were guests yesterday of a panel on youth, one of four organized at the conference. The other three were Israel campaigns and bond sales; immigration and investments, and community problems. Present at the youth panel, beside the guests, were some 120 delegates from Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Praguay and Peru. The Israel-Uruguayan Cultural Institute tendered a luncheon yesterday for representatives of similar institutes in other Latin American countries. All were non-Jews.

Addressing the luncheon in French, Dr. Goldmann cited the example of Uruguay as proof of what a small, but determinedly democratic state could accomplish–it fought five wars in the last century to protect its independence. Thanking previous speakers for their kind words about Israel, he said that the Jewish State wanted only to live in peace and needs the support of “a liberal-minded world. Uruguay cannot give us planes, tanks and guns,” he continues. “but the genuine friendship which is coming forth from the small states–more zealous of their freedom–counts very high.”