U.S. Urges U.N. to Condemn Anti-semitism As a Form of Racial Bias

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which has been in session here two weeks debating a draft Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Racial Intolerance, was presented with a United States amendment to that draft this weekend, specifically condemning “anti-Semi-tism as a form of racial discrimination.” The amendment would instruct all governments to take action as appropriate for its (anti-Semitism’s) eradication in the territories subject to their jurisdiction.” The clause is to be debated by the full, 21-member Commission this week, possibly tomorrow.

The amendment was presented by the head of the United States delegation in the Commission, Mrs. Marietta Tree, after a suggestion that condemnation of racism must mention anti-Semitism specifically had been made by Dr. Isaac Lewin, representative of the Agudas Israel World Organization. He was supported by Dr. Joel Barromi, Israel’s deputy permanent representative here. Dr. Lewin’s organization has consultative status before the Commission as a non-governmental organization, while Israel’s status is that of an official observer.

Experienced U. N. diplomats and Secretariat members noted that it was very rare for a Government delegation to act as promptly as the United States did on the suggestion of a non-governmental body. Dr. Lewin, who has a voice but not a vote in the Commission, had urged the group that one of the draft convention articles which condemns apartheid and racism should also mention anti-Semitism specifically. He pointed out that, historically, from ancient Greek and Roman times, through the Nazi era and down to the present, professed opponents of racism have, nevertheless, advocated or incited toward anti-Semitism.

Mrs. Tree, taking her cue from Dr. Lewin immediately, then proposed an oral amendment adding the term “anti-Semitism” in the context that he had spotlighted. When several delegations agreed with her in principle but insisted that anti-Semitism be brought into another context, she withdrew her oral amendment and presented the separate article condemning anti-Semitism.

Dr. Barromi delivered a brief but impassioned plea to the Commission, requesting it not “to miss this historic opportunity to state formally a repudiation” of anti-Semitism. Such a formulation, he said, “could bring encouragement and hope to millions of suffering human beings.”

Meanwhile, a working group of 15 of the Commission’s members continued this weekend to try to hammer out an acceptable text for another proposed U.N. Declaration and Convention, which would assure freedom from religious intolerance to all peoples throughout the world. Members of the Commission hoped that the group would conclude debate this week on the anti-racism draft, turning thereafter to the religious freedom item on the group’s agenda.