United Nations Secretary General Trygve Lie left Israel today declaring at the airport that it has been a “stimulating experience” for him to see the Jewish state and its people. He was seen off at the airport by Israel’s Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett and other high officials of Israel’s Foreign Office.
“I leave your country with two convictions,” Mr. Lie said. “Firstly, that even under the most difficult circumstances, Israel has people imbued with courage and vitality who are determined to survive and are able to convert barren land into fruitful and productive soil. Secondly, what the people of Israel need and desire above all is peace with their neighbors and peace throughout the world.”
Tribute to Israel’s dynamic efforts for economic and political consolidation was paid by Mr. Lie last night at a reception given in his honor by Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett. Minister Sharett replied with a toast to the “great champion of world peace.” Gathered at Mr. Sharett’s residence for the reception were all members of the diplomatic corps in this city, high church dignitaries, Arab and Jewish notables and political figures from the extreme right to the extreme left. Among the quests was Dr. Abba Hillel Silver.
During his visit here Mr. Lie toured the country inspecting industrial and agricultural development projects. His praise of Israel’s economic progress is seen here as significant. Yesterday he met with members of the U.N. Conciliation Commission for Palestine and with the U.N. chairmen of the Mixed Armistice Commissions. He also received a report on the resettlement of Arab refugees from Palestine and an Israeli memorandum on the freezing in Iraq of Jewish assets and property.
(The New York Times today reported from Tel Aviv that it is believed that Mr. Lie’s Middle East tour has convinced him that the United Nations methods and machinery are inadequate and must be radically overhauled to cope with the Israeli-Arab problems. The opinion is expressed that the activities of the three United Nations agencies now working on Israeli-Arab affairs must be consolidated into one over-all apparatus headed by a forceful personality. The three agencies are: the U.N. Truce Commission, the Palestine Conciliation Commission and the U.N. Works and Relief Administration.)
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