M-T
The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, September 13, 1984-Page 5
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ m
m
VT>AVID FRIEDMAN WASHINGt6n(JTA)-
President Reagian went before a large Jewish audience to officially an-nounce that his administration wil now ''vigorously support"* U.S. ratification of the United Nations Gonvention against genocide,
"I want you to know that we intend to use the con-. vention in our efforts to expand human freedom and fight human rights abuses around the world,'' Reagan told the biennial convention of B'nai B'rith International. "Like you, I say in a forthright voice v ' never again.' ''
B'nai B'rith has long called for the adoption of the genocide convention.
But the President has refused to call for its fatifi-catidn by_ the Senate up to now, apparently because of opposition from some conservatives. The state department announced the new position prior to Reagan's speech.
Reagan explained that the decision was made after a "long and exhaustive study" because of concern about the international covenjant "in art due to the human rights abuses performed by some nations that have already ratified the document."
The General Assembly of the United Nations approved unanimously on Dec. 9, 1948, a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The convention specifies that' 'genocide is
a crime under international law which the civilized world condemnsT and for the commission of which principals and accomplices are punishable."
More than 90 countries, with the notable exception of the United States have approved the convention, which was prompted by the Nazi mass wartinie slaughter of six million Jews. (Canada signed the convention of Nov. 28, 1949 and ratified it "on Sept. 3, 1952).
The convention seeks to deter genocide by forcing nations to punish tfiose who commit such a crime, whether they are heads of istate, government officials or private citizens.
Even if genocide is committed by a government on its own territory,
to review
MONTREAL-
The officers of Canadian Jewish Congress have made formal representations to the Portuguese government regarding its reported granting of residential status to Valerian Trifa.
Trifa, who arrived in the United States in 1950, is an archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He is accused of being a leader of the Nazi Iron Guard in Romania during World War II. He was a prime
target of a- U.S. justice department campaign to track down Nazi war criminals who had concealed their past when they immigrated to thev.U.5. after the war.
After lengthy legal proceedings, Trifa was stripped of his U.S. citizenship and deported. Romania has refused to take hinl back; SAvitzerland and several other countries have also refusied to grant him asylum.
It has been reported that
Portugal is willing to permit Trifa to reside in that country, where he is at present on a visitor's permit.
CJC recently met with Jose Filipe de Moraes Cabral, minister counselor with the Portuguese embassy in Ottawa. The embassy officer said that Trifa's case is under review by the minister of the interior.
Congress says it is maintaining communications with the Portuguese embassy on this matter.
JERUSALEM(JTA)-^ The treasury pumped into the economy last month a record sum of 135.4 billion shekels, far more than the worst projections.
Some 34 billion shekels were directed to credit exports and return of debts, 58.5 billion: shekels to cover current public expenditures in the economy, and the rest went to meet internal debts of the government.
Currency reserves also continued dieir decline last
month, dropping by $92 million, reaching the level of $2,411 billion. This is a moderate drop, compared to the share drop in July, but the continued drop causes concern in economic circles here.
Nissim Baruch, director of the treasury, explained that some of that expense was unavoidable.
He said the country was faced with a continued phenomenon of a large return of debts. However, he added, that once the government decides to implement a number of plans "to absorb money from the
public," this would have a positive effect.
Finance Minister Yigal Cohen-Orgad is reportedly impatient with the government's failure to take the necessary measures until now. He said last week that only a "few days" were left, because of the shrinking foreign currency reserves and because of the need to begin the rehabilitation process before the U.S. determines the foreign aid parcel to Israel for next year.
The Canadian Council of LiberaLCongregations,
KADBMA -
• Canadian Council of Reform Zionists, and the Canadian Region of the Central Conference of ^ American Rabbis ^
mourn the passing of
Rabbi Harry Joshua Stern •p't
CANADA PARK
PLANT TREKS AND KFtP ISRACL GRKF.N
Call Oiir Tree Number Toronto..... 638-7200
Hamilton....527-7385
London.......432-2139
Windsor......969-8733
Montreal..,..934-0313 Halifax... ..,422-7491
Ottawa ......230-9047
genocide is not considered an internal matter but a crime under international law.
The convention was passed by the General Assembly partly because of the persistent efforts of Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-born Jewish attorney, who coined the term "genocide" and worked vigorously for years to get UN approval of the proposal.
The United Sates participated in drafting the convention and President Truman sent it to the Senate in 1949. Every President since then, except Eisenhower, and, to date, Reagan, has recommended approval but it hais been blocked repeatedly by conservatives and isolationists in the Senate who fear it would expose
Americans to dubious charges of genocide before a foreign court lacking American constitutional guarantees.
Reagan's speech to the BB, which was interrupted njany times by applause, included his declaration of support of Israel, a rejection of anti-semitism and of quotas, and a denunciation of tile Sandinista regime in Nicaragua as anti-semitic, Reagan praised the development that is occuring in which millions of Americans, including Jews, are returning to faith. "According to Rabbi Seymour Siegel of the Jewish Theological Seminary, this trend among Jews is illustrated by a growing interest in Jewish history and the Hebrew language, and by tile rise of tiie Baal Teshu-va —a powerful movement
of Jews young and old, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform returning to tiie ancient ways of the faith," Reagan said.
The President said that as Americans welcomed this development, they ' 'niust ever more fervidly aittack ugly intolerance. We have no place for haters in America," he asserted.
Reagan declared that tiie —U.S. "is and must remain a nation of openness to people of all beliefs. Our very unity has been strengthened by this pluralism."
He said "the ideals of our country leave no room whatsoever for intolerance, anti-semitism or bigotry of any kind—none."
V
V
O.U.The two letters you want to see on your wine. They signify the strict, stringent procedures necessary for traditional occasions. And you'll find them on every bottle of Schapiro's.
That®symbol makes all the difference In the world. But there are other reasons for choosing a particular wine. Like taste. Which is what you can depend on every bottle of Schapiro's to give you.
Our wines are aged to perfection In our historic RMngton Street wine cellar They are made for you to enjoy Try them. Your next toast will be, "Oh. you beautiful wine!"
SCHAPIRO'S WlNeS.83 YEARS AND SnU. IN THE CELLAR.
DISTRIBUTED BY:
GILA WINE