Inky Water

Like bouquets at the opening night of a smash hit, de facto recognitions showered down on the new, muscle-flexing state of Israel. They came from France, the Benelux countries, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland.* Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland promised action soon. Most important of all, recognition was announced by Great Britain.

Britain's balky, bumbling Foreign Secretary Bevin had been urged by the U.S. to grant recognition before the Israeli elections last week, in order to encourage the Israeli moderates against the extremists. But Bevin stubbornly refused to be hustled. As it turned out, the Israeli moderates did well anyway.

"Quintessence of Maladresse." When the gabble of 21 electioneering parties had died down, 427,000 voters (including 30,000 Arabs) went to the polls in Israel's first election. Premier David Ben-Gurion's Mapai (Labor Party) polled 35% of the vote, more than double the total of its nearest competitor. Closely bunched were the left-wing United Workers, which want alignment with Russia; the United Religious Front, which wants a state conforming to the Talmud; and the ultranationalist Freedom Movement, which wants a conquest of Palestine and Transjordan before peace is made with the Arabs. The Communists got 3.5% of the vote.

Since Mapai is committed to negotiations rather than military action as the way to peace, the election results might put new life in the Jewish-Egyptian peace talks going on under U.N. auspices at Rhodes. Both sides were making minor concessions but holding fast to major positions. The atmosphere was that of "a comfortable chess game," but a Briton from the Foreign Office said that if his government should join the U.S. in putting on pressure for peace, a formula would pop up at Rhodes in short order.

Did Bevin really want agreement? It was hard to tell from his hesitation in the days preceding recognition of Israel by Britain. Winston Churchill, fresh and saucy after a vacation on the French Riviera, raked him with merciless verbal talons. Churchill spoke of "folly, fatuity and futility . . . the quintessence of maladresse" and compared Bevin to a cuttlefish which retires "under a cloud of inky water and vapor . . . to some obscure retreat."

What Is a Patron? Still sleepy from his afternoon nap, Bevin droned through a long speech, Wearily mispronouncing words (he said "exubriance" for exuberance, "umanimity" for unanimity, "Lydia" for Lydda). When he reached the end without announcing recognition, the Labor benches groaned. The vote on a motion for adjournment was a vote for or against Bevin. Prime Minister Attlee, in a desperate effort to corral wavering Labor votes, made it a vote of confidence for or against the government. Even so, more than 50 Labor M.P.s abstained, and the vote, 283 to 193, was the narrowest majority the Labor government had ever had. Bevin looked relieved. Attlee was visibly jarred.

Recognition came three days later, in a brusque Foreign Office communique. In Tel Aviv, when a newsman asked Israel's diplomats how they felt about it, he was handed a typewritten copy of Dr. Johnson's letter to Lord Chesterfield in 1755: "Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labors, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it . . ."

* The total of recognizing nations this week was 31. The U.S., which recognized Israel de facto eight months ago, this week added de jure recognition, which means that ambassadors will be exchanged. At the same time, it granted de jure recognition to the Arab state of Transjordan.

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