U.S. Ambassador Goldberg Urges U.N. to Condemn Anti-semitism ‘by Name’

A call for United Nations condemnation of anti-Semitism “by name, ” and a pledge that the United States delegation in the U.N. “will continue the fight to do so, by raising the issue once again in the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations, ” were voiced here tonight by Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg, chairman of the U.S. delegation to the world organization.

The statements were made by Ambassador Goldberg at a dinner session of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, which presented him with its annual America’s Democratic Legacy Award for “distinguished contributions to the enrichment of our democratic heritage. ” The dinner was held in conjunction with the 53rd annual meeting of the ADL’s national commission, and was the highlight of the League’s four-day session at the New York Hilton Hotel.

Mr. Goldberg noted that the U.N. General Assembly recently adopted an International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, but that the document “omitted a specific reference to anti-Semitism as one of the particular evils to be condemned.” An amendment specifically condemning anti-Semitism had been introduced by the U.S.A. but was bypassed after a diversionary move by the Soviet Union that would have equated anti-Semitism and Zionism with Nazism and neo-Nazism.

“With its evil history over the centuries, ” the Ambassador said, “and the monstrous crime of 6, 000, 000 Jews murdered by the Nazis little more than a generation ago, anti-Semitism demands condemnation by name. ” Pledging that the delegation which he heads will bring up the issue again before the Human Rights Commission, which is to meet next March, Mr. Goldberg continued: “We will do so because our attitude is consistent no matter what the violation of a man’s rights–anti-Semitism, apartheid in South Africa or the denial of rights to black Africans in Rhodesia.”

Benjamin R. Epstein, national director of the ADL, addressing a session last night, criticized Jewish leaders who hold that Jews should have no interest in statements on Jews adopted by the Ecumenical Council, and should consider it “an internal Catholic affair.” He urged Jews not to let “memories of past wounds” keep them from acknowledging “the Ecumenical Council’s value and significance” and disputed the “fear of losing identity” voiced by some Jewish leaders.

He said he understood concerns about interdating and intermarriage, but does not share them. “We need more confidence in the enduring values of our own heritage, and we need to act with rational responsiveness to that sense of confidence,” he declared. Fear can only lead Jews to “isolation and ultimately, self-ghettoization,” he said.

FOUR-DAY PARLEY TO ANALYZE CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING JEWS

Some 1, 000 Jewish community leaders and eminent representatives of government, industry, labor, education and religion attended the dinner honoring Ambassador Goldberg. ADL commissioners from throughout the country are participating in the four-day ADL meeting, which will conclude on Tuesday.

The ADL commissioners will analyze current issues of civil rights, intergroup and interfaith relations, problems of discrimination and extremist activities. Among major studies to be reported are: The impact and growth of the radical right; the extent and reasons for the 1965 Ku Klux Klan resurgence; Arab anti-Jewish propaganda activities and boycott efforts against Israel; and an analysis of the current state of pornographic cartoon books and other materials which denigrate and ridicule Jews.

The participants will also analyze the amount and motivations of anti-Semitism in the United States, based on the latest findings of the five-year University of California study being conducted for the ADL. They will also discuss the new dimensions in Christian-Jewish relations and the implications of Federal aid to education as a spur to improved intergroup relations.