More than 60,000 persons tonight sought entry to Madison Square Garden here where a monster mass meeting under the auspices of the American Zionist Emergency Council was held to greet the new state of Israel. Only 25,000 were admitted into the hugs auditorium, while loudspeakers were set up outside for those who could not gain entry. Among the speakers at the meeting were Drs. Abba Hillel Silver, Emanuel Neumann, and Stephen S. Wise, Brig. Gen. Julius Klein, Sen. Robert A.Taft, Mayor William O’Dwyer, Henry Morgenthau and former Governor Herbert H. Lehman.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was scheduled to deliver one of the featured addresses, was indisposed and instead sent a message to the meeting. “The family of nations closes a two thousand year chapter of injustice, homelessness, and frustration and bitterest trial of our exile, as we enter the new era in a spirit of rededication to the fundamental truths expounded by out prophets and sages. With God’s help we had continue to build the state of Israel on foundations of justice and equality fall its inhabitants and with good will and brotherhood toward the neighboring sates, and indeed to all peoples of the world.
“My thoughts today are with the Yishuv whose pioneers and workers ore bearing ###ens and heavy sacrifices in defending their homeland,” the aged Zionist leader ##ared. “We honor those who have fallen. They have given their lives that the Jewish people may live. The road of statehood is beset with many difficulties and ##acles, but I am confident that we shell overcome them with tenacity and courage, faith in the justice of our cause.“This is also a moment of great pride f or the Jews of the United State who ### contributed so much to the Jewish national revival in Palestine. I do not doubt ### the full measure of their support and encouragement will be forthcoming to sus## the Jewish state in the ordeals which it now confronts. Though there have been ### disappointments in recent months I f eel sure that American Jews will never for## the services and the assistance which the President, the government and the people the United States have rendered in those actions whereby the United nations last number gave historic recognition to Jewish nationhood.”
NEUMANN HAILS AMERICAN BOLE IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
Dr. Neumann hailed President Trumen’s de facto recognition of the Provisional government of Israel, which he said came as a reward for the courage and faith of the wish people who dared to reclaim their national heritage in the face of Arab aggression from all sides.
“The world acclaims this act of high statesmanship, which has stirred us to the very depths of our souls. From this rostrum we tender our profound appreciation ### heartfelt gratitude to President Truman. His timely action in a long step in the direction of restoring the moral leadership of the United States in the great and dramatic struggle which has been in progress.”
One implication of the recognition is “clear and inescapable,” he said. “The United Status cannot recognize the now-born state of Israel and then abandon it to its fate. It cannot allow it to fall a prey to ruthless international aggression. I am not asking for the dispatch of American forces. Israel asks none but its own sons to fight for it or die for it. But Israel has the right to expect – and so do we citizens of the United States that cur government shall take all other measures, and there are many, to check the aggressors and to strengthen the defense of Israel. Something tells mo that before long our government will revise its arms embargo.”
Speaking of the relationship of American Zionists to the Jews of Israel, the head of the Zionist Organization of’ America, declared: “A profound and democratic change has taken place in the relationship of American Zionists to and with the Jews of Palestine. They are citizens of Israel and we are citizens of the United States. They have taken their fate into their own hands, and the management of their affairs is henceforth their own responsibility. We cannot and will not intervene in the political life of the state of Israel.
Morgenthu told the rally that the establishment of a Jewish state was giving the Jews of the entire world, particularly those in desperate straits a constructive program on the “road to self-sustenance and self-realization.” He also called for more and greater contributions to make the work of building Israel a reality. Gov. l### urged that an effective international authority be set up in the entire Jerusalem area.(As the Bulletin want to press other speakers had not yet addressed to rally.)
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
