State Department to Get Jewish Views on Middle East Policy

The presidents of the leading American Jewish organizations meeting at the Waldorf Astoria today decided unanimously to submit to the U.S. Department of State “at the earliest possible time” their views of the “prejudicial effects” of recent developments in the Middle East and “the deterioration of conditions in the region.”

The meeting, convened by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency, was called for the purpose of reviewing current developments in the Middle East. Participants included the presidents of major Jewish organizations who had agreed earlier this year to consult and exchange views periodically on problems of Israel that are of common interest to American Jews. Also present and participating were a number of other Jewish organizations.

The meeting considered the plans of the U. S. Department of State to grant arms to the Arab States, the pending transfer of the Suez Canal bases to Egypt without concomittent non-aggression guarantees, the lifting of the embargo on arms to Egypt, and the resultant change in the balance of strength in the Middle East.

A communique issued after the meeting, expressed “deep concern over the prejudicial effects of these developments on America’s interests in the region, on the security of Israel, and the prospects of peace in the Middle East.”

The heads of the following organizations participated: American Jewish Congress, American Trade Union Council for Labor Israel, American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, American Zionist Council, B’nai B’rith, Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, Jewish Agency for Palestine, Jewish War Veterans of the U. S., Jewish Labor Committee, National Community Relations Advisory Council, United Jewish Appeal, Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, Union of American Hebrew Congregation, and United Synagogue of America.