Truman Promises to Attend J.N.F. Dinner; Receives Delegation

President Truman today promised a delegation of Jewish National Fund leaders who visited the White House that he would address a dinner to be held at the Hotel Statler in Washington on May 26, marking the completion of the J.N.F. project for the establishment in Israel of Kfar Truman.

The delegation included Vice-President Alben W. Barkley, national honorary chairman of the Kfar Truman Committee; Dr. Harris J. Levine, president of the Jewish National Fund of America; Mendel N. Fisher, executive director of the Jewish National Fund; Milton Kronheim, Washington chairman of the Kfar Truman project, and Rep. Abraham J. Multer of New York. A report was made to the President on the progress made in the establishment of the village bearing his name, which is located near the Lydda airport.

Mr. Truman, after expressing deep satisfaction with the achievements of the J.N.F., said he was looking forward to a time when he will be able to visit Kfar Truman. Vice-President Barkley, as a member of the delegation, announced that more that $250,000 has been raised throughout the United States through popular subscriptions in which thousands of school children participated. The delegates told Mr. Truman that Kfar Truman now has 180 settlers, all veterans of the Palmach. The delegation issued the following statement after leaving the President’s office.

“Our thanks go out to the President of the United States for the warm reception extended to us and for his gracious acceptance of our invitation to personally participate in the ceremony marking the completion of the J.N.F. project for the establishment of a village in Israel bearing his name. We thought it fitting and proper that the name of President Truman who, among all the heads of governments on earth, was the first to recognize the State of Israel, be associated forever with the ancient land and the ancient people of Israel.

“In this way, we hope, future generations may come to know of President Truman’s splendid leadership and the magnificent support given by him and the American people during the period of Israel’s crucial struggle for independence. The testimonial dinner on May 26th will serve as another manifestation of the high esteem and affection in which the Jews of America and the people of Israel hold President Truman, thus helping to forge another link in the friendship and understanding between the United States and the State of Israel.”