Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-09
BRIGHT AND DIM
Viewsof Dorothy Thompson's Views

ANANNN HANA = - - = NAHN y NN"N"N
use her influence with the
Arabs 20 arrange such Va
meeting. The conference table
Is the only place where diff
ferences can be reconciled In
a civilized manner.
M. Llmfeld.
$3.50
I read with some amuse-
ment Dorothy ThompsonS
statement that she resigned
from the American Friends
OF the Middle East two years
ago so that she would be
free" II she meant free OF
Partially. her resignation did
not affect her thought and
writing In any discernible
way. Not long ago, when the
London conference broke up
. without result. Miss Thomp-
son wrote that she had fore
cast that II would accom-
plish nothing unless II under
took TO dismember a country
that peace conferences In
general do not get anywhere
unless they set out 10 dis
member a country-and there
was bitterness rather than
humor indicated in her coll
umn. One did not have TO
look far from Israel to know
what country she had In
mind.
Perhaps Miss Thompson
should have organized an
Arab Friends of the United
States" in the Middle East.
since the Middle East has
not been short Of friends
here. except that the United
States is not accustomed TO
being told by military dicta-
tors whom TO hate. Unfor-
nately. Miss Thompson has
been too ready to see the
United States through the
eyes OF its enemy-critics, and
has written quite a few ar
ticles with the most jaun-
diced views of American life
which is, of course. not a
customary way of promoting
friendship between the United
States and other countries.
Since the Nasserites were
trying to promote anti-Jew-
ish attitudes in various coun-
tries outside the Middle East.
including economic blockade
of Israel, it isn't at all sur
prising that the Jews did
what they could to block
Nasser's attempts. That she
placed herself at the service
of NasSer's propaganda mill.
at the same time that she
wrote belittlingly of the
United States, was in line
with Nasser's tactics. She
never seemed to feel hurt at
the vicious diatribes that he
poured out of Cairo radio
transmitters.
I would suggest that Miss
Thompson do a little promot-
ing of friendship for the
United States in the Middle
East-of the hatelesS type.
That would seem to be more
rational than what she has
in mind.
Martin Keller.
X 4 4 +
Abraham Frank in his let
ter August 2 stated that "the
crisis in the Middle East is
the result of extreme poverty
and hunger" and rejected
Miss Dorothy Thompson's
view, namely. that the real
source of upheaval in the
area is Israel. Undoubtedly
the Arab states have already
undertaken great measures in
terms of economic develop
ment and social reforms. and
they are on the march trying
to catch up with the we'll
advanced countries. Yet in
their endeavor to do the ut
most for the we'll being of
the Arab people, they have
been caught in the middle of
the road by the creation of
Israeli which has caused a
good deal of turmoil and UNI
rest ever since. Moreover,
ZioniSm caused the deterio-
ration of Arab-American re-
lations. Prior to the creation
of Israel, the Arabs and the
Americans h a d entertained
friendly and healthy atti-
tudes towards each other.
However, I would like to
substantiate my thesis by
quoting from a concurrent
resolution submitted to the
Senate on July Is by Senator
Flanders, which explains
clearly the effects of Zionism
working to the detriment of
United States foreign policy
in the Middle East Congress
Sional Record, 85th Congress,
Vol. l04, No. l21. Page l296S):
Whereas the unrest in the
Arab world is caused pri-
marily by the forcible occu-
patton of Arab land by the
government of Israel; and
Whereas the expansion of
the population of Israel
threatens an added seizure of
Arab territory; and
Whereas the overpopula-
ton of Israel is largely A.
nanced by tax-free contribu-
tons from American citizens:
and
Whereas by certain ac-
tions of our Government the
friendship Of the Arab peo-
Piles can be promoted: There
fore, be it
Resolved by the Senate