Evening star., 1948-05-19
Recognition of Israel

To the Editor of The Star:
The announcement by the Zionists Of the
establishment of their state, Israel, seems to
have been accepted by the American press as
If it were solution to the problem Of Pales-
tine. The Presidents unprecedented and
frantic haste to recognize the embryonic, un-
proved state has gone without criticism in
spite of his arbitrary and autocratc omission
from consultation of the Department of State
or of the American delegation to the United
Nations. 1t is high time that Americans began
to be more critical in their approach to in
ternational affairs.
The Zionist declaration Of independence was
contrary to the expressed wish Of majority
of the United Nations, who realized that such
an overt act would make impossible truce in
Palestine and would precipitate action by the
Arab states There has been no criticism yet
directed at the Zonsts for thus flouting the
United Nations. Yet criticism is surely de-
served and should be forthcoming. We are
only too quick to criticize the intransigence OF
the Arabs which is relatively pale by contrast.
The Presidents curiously personal, unilateral
pronouncement of recognition took no account
of the United Nations, undercut his own dele
of the National Security Council, of the area
experts in the State Department., the Military
Establishment and the Central Intelligence
Agency, to say nothing of the Congress. Such
a decision, so hastily and secretly taken, on
subject freighted with such import for world
peace and security that the United Nations
has spent months on it without reaching a
decision is not only dictatorial but dangerous
in its many Implications Yet there has been
no criticism from the press, which is supposed
to be the guardian Of our democratic principles.
The Presidents action has, in effect, made
mockery of United States participation in the
United Nations, has given our blessing to the
intensifcation of divisive nationalism rather
than to the principles of friendship among ma
tions and concliation of international diff
ferences has aligned this country in opposition
to the sovereign Arab nations and to the en-
tire Moslem world of 300,000,00o people. Yet
there have as yet been no questions raised
concerning the right or authority of the Presi-
dent singlehandedly to commit this nation to
such an astounding and dangerous program.
In the General Assembly the reaction of the
Arab representatives to word of Americas rec
ognition of Israel should give us profound
pause. "Duped," betrayed were words they
used And why not? They had for weeks ne
gotiated with confidence in the good faith Of
the American delegation which was trying
desperately to arrange truce in Palestine. In
the very midst of those negotiations word ar
rived of the Presidents action Our own dele
CATION was shocked and embarrassed. The
only comparable situation in our recent ex-
perience was the attack on Pearl Harbor while
Nomura and Kurusu were supposedly conduct
ing discussions in good faith in Washington.
On that occasion we were on the receiving end
and we didn't like it. Yet now the general
impression given in the press is that the
Zionists and the President are somehow adni-
rable, while the Arabs merit no consideration
anyway. This is far cry from the spirit OF
fair play which Is supposedly typical OF
Americans. In reality 1t Is the most discredit-
able performance yet In . whole series OF