Truman Honored by Z.o.a.; Reaffirms His Faith in State of Israel

Former President Harry S. Truman, acclaimed tonight by the Zionist Organization of America for his contributions to the establishment of Israel, reaffirmed his support of and faith in the Jewish state. He emphasized that “the entire Middle East could be transformed into an area of tranquility and prosperity if only the Arab states would be willing to embrace Israel into their orbit.

In an address at the ZOA annual dinner–read by Mr. Truman’s daughter, Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel–the former President, who could not attend because he was convalescing from an injury suffered in a fall, said: “I am most hopeful that the policy of our Government to encourage friendship and close cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors, will come to pass sooner than we believe.” Mrs. Daniel accepted on behalf of her father the ZOA’s 1965 Theodor Herzl Award-Gold Medallion at the dinner. The medallion was presented by Dr. Max Nussbaum, former president of the ZOA.

Emanuel Neumann, honorary president of the ZOA, who presided at the dinner, told the 1,000 guests that Zionist efforts be directed not only at ensuring the further progress and security of the State of Israel but to carry forward the immigration to Israel. “Since our movement owes its inspiration to prophetic vision and faith, we may be bold enough to anticipate that before the close of the 20th century the population of the Jewish State shall double and reach the figure of 5,000,000 souls,” he said.

Ambassador Michael Comay, Israel’s chief delegate to the United Nations, declared in an address at the dinner that Israel was “conceived by and born out of the Zionist movement and the will and resolve of the small Yishuv to proclaim and defend its independence. ” Nothing, he added, can affect the “profound historical, moral and political fact that in 1947 the United Nations had reaffirmed in principle the Jewish claim to independence.”

Hailing former President Truman’s role in the establishment and recognition of Israel, Jacques Torczyner, president of the ZOA, also noted that the Truman Administration’s first grants-in-aid and other valuable assistance to Israel permitted the young state to survive. The proceeds of the $100-a-plate dinner will go toward a Truman Scholarship Fund for deserving students in Kfar Silver, the agricultural training school in Israel established and maintained by the Zionist Organization of America.