Shertok Receives Official Notification of British Government’s Recognition of Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok today received British Consul-General Cyril Marriot who transmitted to him the contents of British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin’s announcement in London yesterday that Britain has decided to accord de facto recognition to Israel. Shertok and Marriott conferred for 30 minutes.

Shertok told Marriott that he echoed Bevin’s hope that this is the beginning of friendly relations between the two nations and promised to reply in writing to Britain’s message of recognition as soon as a report is received from London concerning a meeting yesterday between Bevin and the acting Israeli representative in London, I.J. Linton. The Israeli Foreign Minister said he would await the arrival of Bevin’s suggestions concerning the exchange of diplomatic representatives.

Official messages of recognition of Israel were received during the from Holland, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. An official message is expected from Switzerland today while formal notification is due here very soon from the Scandinavian countries.

Davar, official organ of the Mapai party, said In an editorial today that recognition of Israel by. Britain, the British Dominions and the Western European countries means an end of the fight for the existence of Israel. “Israel,” the editorial continued, “must, however, continue its fight for its boundaries. The world Is compelled to admit that Israel Is a political and military fact, which can defend itself. Israel is assured of Its place In the family of nations,” the paper added.

Haaretz, leading General Zionist paper, saw in Britain’s recognition of Israel ‘Bevin’s surrender to the facts of reality,” but emphasized that “never was such a gesture made with such a lack of good -will.” The Freedom Party’s official publication, Heruth, warned that recognition by Britain means “small changes in details but no changes in the general line of Bevin’s Palestine policy.”