The U.S. Government is exerting every possible effort to influence both Jews and Arabs to agree to an extension of the Palestine truce which expires tomorrow, it was officially revealed by the State Department today.
Anxious to prevent the possible renewal of war within the next 24 hours, State Department is working feverishly through its diplomatic representatives in Palestine and in the Arab countries to have the interested parties accept the prolongation of the truce for such a period as they may decide upon in consultation with U.N. mediator Count Folke Bernadotte.
Questions concerning the Palestine truce were discussed yesterday by President Truman with Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, who called upon the President at the White House. Mr. Morgenthau declined to reveal the results of his visit, but stated that he was “hopeful” about the future peace of Palestine.
High diplomatic officials, U.S. Government officials and prominent members of the Washington Jewish community last night gathered at the Israeli mission’s first formal social function a reception in honor of the new U.S. special representative to Israel, James G. McDonald.
The representative of Israel to the U.S., Eliahu Epstein, and Mrs. Epstein, received the guests. These included the Polish Ambassador, the Yugoslav Ambassador, the Finnish Minister, the Hungarian Charge D’Affaires, and diplomatic officials representing Russia, Bulgaria, Rumania, the Union of South Africa, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela and Uruguay.
Also attending were White House press secretary Charles G. Ross, Assistant Secretary of State Norman Armour, Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brannon, several members of the State Department Near Eastern and African affairs division, and Senator and Mrs. Harley Kilgore, and Rep. Adolph Sabath. Major General John H. Hilldring, until recently slated to become a special assistant to the Secretary of State for Palestine Affairs, also attended. A movie showing the gradual steps leading to statehood for Israel was shown.
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