Kennedy Pledges to Use White House Influence for Middle East Peace

Senator John F. Kennedy, the Democratic presidential candidate, pledged today that, if elected on November 8, be would “use all the authority of the White House to seek peace and implement our moral commitments in the Middle East.” His pledge was contained in a message to the 32nd national convention of the Labor Zionist Organization of America. The convention unanimously approved earlier action by the organization’s central committee, endorsing the Kennedy-Johnson ticket.

The convention adopted a resolution calling on the United States Government not to Support, under any circumstances, the candidacy of the United Arab Republic for membership in the United Nations Security Council. The resolution declared that the United States should bring all its influence to bear to prevent any UN member from obtaining a seat on its highest peace tribunal who persists in avowing that it is in a state of war with another member, and continues to ignore resolutions of the Security Council.

(Foreign Minister Golda Meir of Israel told members of the United Jewish Appeal study mission in Jerusalem Saturday night that Israel hoped that whoever was elected President of the United States on November 8 would continue a policy of friendship towards Israel and would work to bring about direct Arab-Israeli talks.

(Mrs. Meir stressed that Israel wanted help only in getting direct talks with the Arabs and would not agree to any arbitration or mediation.)

The Labor Zionists also urged the United States Government to provide Israel and all other peace-loving nations with firm guarantees against aggression; to refuse to acquiesce in any illegitimate acts of boycott, blockade or denial of just rights committed against Israel; and to reject the “intolerable” discriminations which the Arab States practice against American Jews and American firms doing business with Israel.