Mr. Lederberger is a member of one of Israel's communal settlements, most of which are agricultural, but some of which combine agriculture with industry. The communities are democratic in the extreme, and have to be nearly as possible self-supporting, although in the aggregate the new republic has commenced a flourishing trade abroad. This has often had to entail sacrifices among the people, and conditions of living are still hard. Nevertheless the fact that food prices are going down indicates a rising standard of living.

A suggestion that the communal enterprises were run on the principles of Communism was hastily denied. The Jews, he said, were an innately socialistic people, and they were held together in the common ownership, control, joy and suffering of the new Israeli community life, by the strong bond of their national spirit. Nationalism pervaded every aspect of living.

A Nation of Sages

The Israeli Trade Union movement fulfilled a very different function from that of its brothers overseas. Besides defending the interests of the organised workers, it ran many co-operative factories, and also helped raise the educational and cultural standards of its members.

Despite difficulties due to the country's economic position, education was now free and compulsory to the age of 17. This, and other civil rights of the Israeli, were shared by the Arab minority within the State. The Jews, said Mr. Lederberger, had suffered too much from persecution ever to persecute others.

He also mentioned that there was a Hebrew University in Jerusalem with which Salient might profitably arrange an exchange. He had himself been pleased to meet other students in Australia and New Zealand, having addressed the University Labour Club in Melbourne.

Ernie's Paws

In the comity of nations, Israel had received the most intense hostility from Ernie Bevin. Despite the wholehearted fight of the Palestine and all other Jews on the side of the Democracies against the aggressive fascism of Hitler and his partners, and despite the untold barbarity committed on Jews by the Nazi racial ideologists, the national aspirations of the Jewish people had been ignored and even fought by the British Foreign Office. However, now that the war had ceased between Jews and Arabs, an opening had been made towards a trade settlement between Israel and Britain.

The cause of world peace was one which Israel must espouse as the condition of her existence. Since her admission to the United Nations, she was in a better position to do that. She would always be thankful to the people and government of both the southern dominions for their friendship and support in gaining her recognition.

Great friendships had been built up between Jews and other nations in war, and they must endure in peace. It reminded your reporters of certain other war-time friendships that are conveniently forgotten.

Despite the pre-war mind of the Foreign Office, and especially of Mr. Bevin, Mr. Lederberger was confident that this friendship would remain.