So. African Premier Receives Israel Consul; 500 Zionists Attend Tri-country Conference

Premier Daniel Malan today received Edward Goitien, Israel Consul-General in South Africa, who recently arrived here. Mr. Goitien was accompanied on his call to the Premier’s office by Y. Golan, Israel Consul in South Africa.

Mere than 500 delegates from the Union of South Africa, Rhodesia and Kenya attended the opening sessions of the South African Zionist Conference here. Israel Consul-General Edward Goitien was warmly received when he greeted the delegates in behalf of the Israel Ben Gurion and Israel delegate to the United Nations, Aubrey S. Eban, who is a native of South Africa.

Meir Grossman, member of the Jewish Agency executive who came here from Jerusalem to address the parley, paid tribute to the role which South African Zionists played in helping to bring about the realization of the Jewish state. He also lauded the aid which former Premier Jan Christian Smuts provided in obtaining the issuance of the Balfour Declaration.

Bernard Ettlinger, who greeted the conclave in the name of the South African Board of Jewish Deputies, voiced the hope that the conference would be mindful of the “proper balance” in the Jewish community’s responsibilities to Israel and to local needs.

Bernard Gering, president of the South African Zionist Federation, reviewed the South African Jewish community’s contributions to the development of Israel. He also noted the de facto recognition extended the Jewish state by the previous South African government and the de jure recognition accorded it by the present regime. For 30 years, he declared, the government of the Union of South Africa consistently supported the Zionist movement.

Mr. Gering paid tribute to the Union volunteers who made the supreme sacrifice in defense of the new state, adding: “The work for Zionism is not completed. We must continue in the historic task of national revival.” Asserting that the Zionist organization must continue to function, Mr. Gering stated: “There will continue to be Jews outside of Israel living as citizens of their own countries but the link between Israel and world Jewry must continue as in the past.”