The governments of the United States, Britain and France were asked tonight by Adlai Stevenson “to allay rising apprehensions” in the Middle East by reaffirming their policy, declared in 1950, of preventing possible aggression on the Arab-Israel borders.
Mr. Stevenson, who spoke at the Weizmann Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, also urged the “Big Three” to strengthen their policy “with guarantees.” He added that “any general security system in the Middle East must take into account the military potential and the democratic vitality and reliability of Israel.” The dinner was attended by more than 1,500 guests each paying $250 per plate. The proceeds went to the Weismann Institute of Science in Israel.
“One cannot, in good faith, take issue with the striving of our officials and other Western nations to improve relations, cooperation and confidence in the Arab world,” Mr. Stevenson said. “This would be a major goal of any administration in Washington. But one can inquire whether tensions are lessened or accommodations advanced by sending military equipment to Arab states if there is any ambiguity about the purpose of such assistance – which is defense, not offense, peace, not war.
“Perhaps it would help to allay rising apprehensions for Britain, France and the United States to reaffirm their policy, declared in 1950, of preventing aggression in the Middle East and to strengthen it with guarantees. And certainly any general security system in the Middle East must take into account the military potential and the democratic vitality and reliability of Israel,” Mr. Stevenson emphasized.
SOBELOFF SAYS U. S. SEEKS TO BRING ABOUT ARAB-ISRAEL PEACE
Simon E. Sobeloff, Solicitor General of the United States, another speaker, said that it is the “unshaken determination” of the U.S. Government to see a just peace established in the Middle East, and that the government is working toward achieving this objective. Mr. Sobeloff’s address was authorized by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
“It is to the interest of all of us in the free world that the issues which remain between Israel and her Arab neighbors be resolved and that a just peace be established in the Near East,” Mr. Sobeloff stated. “It is the unshaken determination of our government to persevere toward that end. Our friendship towards all the people in the area is firm and our influence will be exerted to bring about peaceful solutions. We have made it abundantly clear that the United States will not tolerate the use of force to resolve these differences.
“We will not seek to increase our friendship with the Arabs at the expense of Israel any more than we would seek to gain favor with Israel at the expense of the Arabs. We are emphasizing this point in our day to day relations with the countries of the Near East and we have reason to believe that our efforts are meeting with some success.
“I am permitted to inform you that Mr. Dulles, our Secretary of State, in accordance with the desires of the President, is actively engaged in the evaluation of our efforts in the Near East with the purpose of hastening progress towards these policy objectives. He has expressed his understanding of the sense of apprehension and isolation which has arisen in Israel and his belief that measures can be taken to allay these feelings. It is gratifying to note that the leaders of Israel have expressed their appreciation for the Secretary’s efforts and their readiness to cooperate with us in the formulation of suitable measures,” Mr. Sobeloff declared.
Abba Eban, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, responding for the State of Israel, said: “We hope that western statesmanship will manifest its presence in the Middle East, not as the importer of destructive weapons to Arab States, or as the unwitting cause of a wasteful arms race, but rather as the unwearying agent of political conciliation, economic welfare and scientific progress. Here, I am convinced, is where the generous purposes of the American government and the people can best fulfill themselves in our region during the coming years. The essential goodwill of America to Israel is reflected in the warm words spoken tonight, both on behalf of the Administration and by the eloquent Democratic leader.”
Professor Niels Bohr, of Copenhagen, Nobel Laureate in Physics and Honorary Fellow of the Weizmann Institute, said: “It is science, and not armed conflicts, which can solve many of the grave problems that our contemporary generation faces all over the globe. Dr. Chaim Weizmann envisaged science as a potent ally of his statesmanship.”
One of the highlights of the dinner was the formal opening of the Benjamin Abrams Electronics Laboratories recently established at the Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovoth, Israel. The dedication speeches, on a two-way radio circuit between New York and Israel via RCA facilities, were given by Harry Levine and Benjamin Abrams speaking from New York and Meyer W. Weisgal, chairman of the executive council of the Weizmann Institute, speaking from Israel.
Mr. Stevenson was presented with a citation-award, electing him an Honorary Fellow of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Dewey D. Stone, chairman of the board of directors of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, who made the presentation, said that “Mr. Stevenson has been elected as an American who has distinguished himself not in the field of science, but in the field of humanities and statesmanship.”
Harry Scherman, chairman of the Louis Lipsky Fellowships at the Weizmann Institute of Science, announced the following selections for the year 1955: Professor Sol Spiegelman, Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, and Associate Professor Herbert Morawetz, Department of Polymer Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Mr. Scherman said that these two distinguished scientists will collaborate in their specific fields with the scientific work of the Weizmann Institute in Israel. Abraham Feinberg, president of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute, was the chairman at the dinner.
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.
