Tells N.Y. UJA Volunteers Harriman Urges Lend-lease Arms Arrangements with Israel

Elder statesman W. Averell Harriman said today that in the current election year, aid to Israel should be “a national question,” and not a “political, partisan” one. He spoke to 200 key volunteers at the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York headquarters here participating in a summer-long person-to-person telephone drive to reach 100,000 members of the New York Jewish community.

The issue of Israel is very much on the minds of those of us who have anything to do with the policies of the Democratic party.” Harriman said, adding the hope that “if the Democrats set a good course in the platform adopted” at their July convention, “the Republicans will do the same.” He applauded the Nixon administration for making it possible for Israel to buy weapons in the US but asked “Why not lend-lease” such arms to Israel? He said if Israel was burdened “by a very large debt” because of US weapons sales policies, “it does seem to me we are not fulfilling our obligations.”

He said what the volunteers were doing was “absolutely essential” because what the US was doing “is only a plus. in no sense do I suggest that it will relieve American Jews of the responsibilities which they have throughout the years so fully met.

Herbert Tenzer, N.Y. UJA chairman, reported that, since the 1972 drive began on Feb. 1, more than 58 million had been raised in trade and community division functions in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, William Rosenwald, an associate campaign chairman who presided at the session, said the mass telephone solicitations, now starting, must reach 75,000 contributors who gave in 1971 but not yet in 1972, as well as thousands of new contributors who he said are needed. Such sessions are scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday, except July 4, until Aug. 31, in New York City and in suburban communities.