Haifa Mayor Finds No Real Rivalry Between Bond Drive and U.J.A.

The belief that the Israel bond campaign and the United Jewish Appeal drive are exerting a mutually beneficial effect on one another was expressed at a luncheon here today by Mayor Abba Hushi of Haifa on the eve of his return to Israel after a speaking tour in behalf of the Israel bond drive which took him to 21 American cities.

Mayor Hushi said that the impression which he formed prior to his arrival of the “disastrous effects of the rivalry of the two campaigns” was not confirmed by his study of conditions as he visited various American cities. While there was need of coordination of the two campaigns, he said, it was his opinion–based on personal experience–that persons who purchased Israel bonds were more likely thereafter to contribute to the United Jewish Appeal. He cited several instances of this which had come to his personal attention.

Henry Montor, vice-chairman of the Israel bond drive, paid a warm tribute to Mayor Hushi, stating that no visitor from Israel since Prime Minister Ben Gurion had so stimulated bond sales. Mr. Montor revealed that the total sale of Israel bonds has exceeded $135,000,000.

Mayor Hushi expressed the view that the second year of the bond campaign would surpass the first in sales. He declared that his study of the situation led him to believe that large areas of the Jewish population had not yet been reached.

The Haifa Mayor revealed that in the intervals between speech making, he had succeeded in making contact with a considerable number of American industrialists who have become interested in setting up plants in the Jewish State. He cited an important steel maker in Pittsburgh as one of these. He found another group of American industrialists who are interested in building 16-story structures on the new Haifa boulevard and he also contacted a large source of American building material, which will be made available to Israel.