"Let's review some history. When our Armed forces
marched into defeated Nazi Germany, revelations were made that shocked
the whole civilized world. The full scope of the Nazi tyranny revealed
that not less than 6 million Jews had been killed by the Nazi warlords.
We soon discovered that occupants of the displaced persons camps did
not wish to move out into the life of the country, although living conditions
in the camps were poor.
I sent Earl G. Harrison, former Commissioner of Immigration
and Naturalization, to look over the camps and give me a report. He
told me that the vast majority of the Jewish displaced persons felt
their future would be secure only in Palestine. On Mr. Harrison's recommendation,
I asked the Government of Great Britain to make available immediately
100,000 entry permits into Palestine. In order to relate the proposed
permits to the larger problem of Jewish resettlement, the Anglo-American
Committee of Inquiry was formed. This Committee again repeated the recommendation
that 100,000 entry permits be issued. You know the rest of the story
as well as I do. The Jewish Agency for Palestine went ahead with plans
to partition Palestine and to 'proclaim the State of Israel.
I am proud of my part in the creation of this new state.
Our Government was the first to recognize the State of Israel. Dr. Chaim
Weizmann is an old and dear friend of mine. It was a great pleasure
for me to have him stay overnight in the Blair House. I could not help
but notice the many thousands of people who passed by Blair House to
see the flags of the United States and the new country of Israel flying
side by side.
I admire the courage with which the State of Israel
has approached difficult problems. Since its creation, it has admitted
not 100,000 but 700,000 refugees. This has not been easy. The United
States has lent great support and assistance in both public and private
funds.
I hope that whoever follows me in the Presidency will
continue to give our country's fullest support to our technical assistance
program not only in Israel but throughout the entire Near East. Peace
between Israel and the Arab States has been an important objective of
our Near Eastern policy. I hope that we shall soon see the day when
Israel and her neighbors will sit down at the peace table and will reach
a full settlement of all their differences so that our friends in the
Near East, Arabs and Israelis alike, may enter together upon a new partnership
for the mutual advantage of all their peoples.
The American people understand the problem of Israel.
Part of our sympathetic interest in the future of Israel stems from
the fact that we, too, once 'proclaimed our own independence in a ringing
declaration which is still an inspiration to freedomloving peoples throughout
the world. We, too, are people of diverse origins who have gathered
strength from many cultures. For over three centuries, the best fighters
for freedom all over the world have migrated to our shores and have
added their talents and their strength to make our country great."